Local Irreverent Warriors hike set Aug. 19
It's hard to fathom that more than 160 veterans in Delaware have committed suicide since 2019. And across the United States, more than 6,000 veterans commit suicide each year.
“That's a huge number for such a small state,” said Braden Zeitler, who formed a Delaware chapter of Irreverent Warriors, a national group dedicated to bringing veterans together using humor and camaraderie to improve mental health and prevent veteran suicide.
Zeitler, who lives in Ellendale, and was born and raised in Millsboro, served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 2007-15. He said he was looking for a way to help his fellow veterans when he went on an Irreverent Warriors hike last year. He found his calling.
The group holds a series of hikes across the country to raise funds and awareness about the suicide epidemic.
Zeitler said after a fellow veteran whom he was trying to help committed suicide, he moved forward with starting a nonprofit Irreverent Warriors chapter in Delaware. He attended training classes and started planning for a hike last July. “We bring veterans together to prevent suicide and help each other out,” he said.
The first Delaware Chapter of Irreverent Warriors hike is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 19.
Registration begins at 7 a.m. at Epworth United Methodist Church on Holland Glade Road in Rehoboth Beach, then the hike gets underway at 9 a.m. Participants will hike to the Bandstand in Rehoboth for lunch and watch the Battle of the Local Pizzerias, featuring four pizza restaurants in competition.
Hikers will also take part in a service-versus-service tug-of-war on Deauville Beach and do 22 pushups to draw attention to the number of veterans who commit suicide each day in the United States.
Back at Epworth, there will be an after-party for hikers and volunteers.
The hike is open to veterans, active-duty servicemen and women, and those in the guard and reserves.
Zeitler said more than 80 hikers have registered so far. For more information, go to irreverentwarriors.com/event/rehoboth-beach-de.
Irreverent Warriors has joined with Stop Soldier Suicide to offer a helpline at 844-689-0445.
