Two Men Riding Segways Cross-Country To Raise Awareness About Veteran Suicide Rates Make Stop In Abilene
By: Gina Benitez
Updated: May 3, 2012
These two are on a mission. Their cause? Saving the lives of American heroes.
"We're doing this because there's about 6,500 a year of our brothers and sisters that are taking their own lives," says Justin Bond, a veteran who came up with the idea for the ride.
They average about 60 miles a day on segway to raise awareness about the alarming rates of veteran suicides.
Bond adds, "Right now, America does not know about this. They hear 18 a day and they have not heard about the 33,000 in 5 years."
Bond lost his leg in Iraq in 2004. He knows first-hand how difficult it is to come back home after a tour of duty. He says many like him, just cannot cope.
"When you've had to take the life of a child, it's something that you can't sleep with at night," says Bond. He adds, "When you can't sleep at night, you can't function the next day. When you can't function in society, you become a menace to society. And it's just really difficult for these vets to come back."
So Justin and his friend Jason are riding. To spread awareness and raise money to make the lives of those trying to ease back into a normal society, a little easier. Abilene was just one stop on their tour that started in Monterrey, California and will end in Jacksonville, Florida.
"18 veterans a day commit suicide. And I feel like as a country, we have an obligation and a responsibility to make 18 a smaller number," says Jason Day, a veteran and Bond's buddy on the road.
An obligation that comes with a few challenges.
Day says, "We do have our rough days, we have our hot days, we have our windy days, but for the most part, it's good being out here getting to see America, getting the support from America and getting to see what's really good with America."
To find out more about the cause and how you can help, click here.
"We're doing this because there's about 6,500 a year of our brothers and sisters that are taking their own lives," says Justin Bond, a veteran who came up with the idea for the ride.
They average about 60 miles a day on segway to raise awareness about the alarming rates of veteran suicides.
Bond adds, "Right now, America does not know about this. They hear 18 a day and they have not heard about the 33,000 in 5 years."
Bond lost his leg in Iraq in 2004. He knows first-hand how difficult it is to come back home after a tour of duty. He says many like him, just cannot cope.
"When you've had to take the life of a child, it's something that you can't sleep with at night," says Bond. He adds, "When you can't sleep at night, you can't function the next day. When you can't function in society, you become a menace to society. And it's just really difficult for these vets to come back."
So Justin and his friend Jason are riding. To spread awareness and raise money to make the lives of those trying to ease back into a normal society, a little easier. Abilene was just one stop on their tour that started in Monterrey, California and will end in Jacksonville, Florida.
"18 veterans a day commit suicide. And I feel like as a country, we have an obligation and a responsibility to make 18 a smaller number," says Jason Day, a veteran and Bond's buddy on the road.
An obligation that comes with a few challenges.
Day says, "We do have our rough days, we have our hot days, we have our windy days, but for the most part, it's good being out here getting to see America, getting the support from America and getting to see what's really good with America."
To find out more about the cause and how you can help, click here.
