A group of veterans is taking part in a 100-mile hike through Southern California this week to show support for their fellow service members suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to promote suicide prevention.
“The goal ultimately is to raise awareness for PTSD and suicide prevention, spread awareness, and let veterans know that you’re not alone,” said John Shafer, a former Marine who personally battled PTSD after nine years of service, including multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Shafer has faced deep personal struggles since returning home.
“A lot of people struggle, myself included,” he shared. “So, it’s a rough journey. Regrettably, I’ve tried taking my life on two separate occasions, because I felt lost. And I just felt like life wasn’t worth living anymore. And so, coming and being part of events like this … allows me to have that fulfillment, that sense of pride that I do matter.”
Shafer is among a dozen participants hiking from Wednesday to Sunday in support of Semper Fi & America’s Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping critically wounded, ill, and injured veterans. The organization provides various types of support, including assistance for those suffering from PTSD.
Now in its sixth year, the event—known as the “PTSD Century Hike”—aims to bring attention to the unseen wounds many veterans carry. This marks the third time Shafer has taken part in the event.
During his service, Shafer suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries caused by explosions and was diagnosed with PTSD after returning to civilian life.
“PTSD is real, and oftentimes you don’t even know what the individual’s undergoing,” he said during a phone interview Thursday while walking the route from Oceanside to San Diego.
He emphasized that PTSD affects every person differently, and that many veterans struggle with the transition back to civilian life.
At one point, Shafer said he nearly became homeless. With the help of Semper Fi & America’s Fund, he was able to find stability and is now focused on giving back to others in similar situations.
Shafer said participating in the PTSD Century Hike gave him renewed purpose and believes the event creates a ripple effect of hope.
“One person affected here goes back and changes one person, and then so on and so on,” he said. “And so, by the end of it, 25 lives been impacted from one event, hopefully making a change for the positive.”
He credits the nonprofit for helping him regain personal accountability and says he is now in a much better place mentally and emotionally.
“Keep pushing,” Shafer said. “And that’s what this hike symbolizes, you know, is that together we’re stronger.”
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