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Coast 2 Capital Ride Aims at Raising Awareness on Veteran Suicide

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Rockport Warriors United (RWU) is launching a veteran suicide awareness bike ride, consisting of two of its members, from Rockport to the steps of the Capitol Building in Austin. It will begin on March 20 and end on March 23, 2020, with the purpose of increasing awareness around the behavioral symptoms that are directly linked to the potential of suicide. The Coast 2 Capital Bike Ride will feature David Jones (of Rockport) and Hershel Shoats (of Corpus Christi) making the 220-mile ride, in advance of which the RWU will be visiting each ride stop in the month of February for suicide awareness presentations.

The two riders, Jones and Shoats, are doing the four-day ride to help increase awareness among citizens of Texas around the potential signs of the risk for suicide among friends and family members. Those wishing to support them are asked to come out and line the streets of each of the towns the Coast 2 Capital Bike Ride will be in along the way. The ride is also encouraging support in the form of sponsorship, which can be completed online at the “tickets” link on their Eventbrite listing, available here. There are not only a number of sponsorship opportunities but also a need for volunteers, if you’re interested in donating your time.

Coast 2 Capital Ride Aims at Raising Awareness on Veteran Suicide

Photo: Pixabay

The Coast 2 Capital Bike Ride will start at the active duty, veteran, and first responder Retreat Center at Rockport Warriors United. It will be completed by veterans in an effort to bring awareness to this growing epidemic. Annually, there are more than 6,000 veteran suicides reported. This statistic doesn’t include those from the reserves. The RWU Coast 2 Capital veteran suicide awareness bike ride will stop in nine different towns along its route to Austin, the state capital of Texas. At each tour stop, a luncheon or dinner will be hosted, together with a talk about veteran suicide. It will cover such topics as how to ask the important questions and how to help a person in need. In addition, the free suicide awareness and prevention class which is being offered in each town along the route beginning in February welcomes community leaders, first responders, teachers, and the general public.

For more information on the Coast 2 Capital Bike Ride, visit their Facebook event page at the link available here. A list of towns and tour stops is also provided on this link. Rockport Warriors United (RWU) is a nonprofit, faith-based retreat center providing a free, relaxing social experience for first responders, active duty, and those who were honorably discharged military veterans.