Stop Soldier Suicide Challenge Completed

On July 30th, 2022, I finished the 250 Mile Cycle Challenge powered by USAA to Stop Soldier Suicide!

Stop Soldier Suicide is a veteran-led nonprofit that provides free, confidential, trauma-informed mental health and wellness care to veterans and service members in all 50 states. Our goal is to reduce the military suicide rate by 40% by 2030.

Veterans and service members are 53% more likely to die by suicide than their peers who have not served. We're here to change that.

Every donation, big or small, counts. If you can afford to donate to the cause, please do. (Link To Donate)

22 Veterans Every day

Every day, 22 veterans lose their battle to post-traumatic stress on American soil.  That is one veteran every 65 minutes. That’s unacceptable. We can not allow this to happen. We must do something to stop this. Our brothers and sisters in arms need our help. (Link)

I’m Eric Burton, Gulf War Veteran, US Army MP

First, let me introduce myself. I am Eric Burton, aka the @goon48. I am a 30 percent disabled Desert Storm Army Veteran. I have a Chronic Anxiety Disorder. I served in the Middle East with the Minnesota National Guard Company the 257th MP Company out of Cottage Grove, Minnesota. My unit was attached to 403rd MP Battalion, and 800th MP Brigade. Our Mission was EPW operations.

I also served three and half years in the Active Army before I joined the Guard. I served in Stuttgart, Germany with the 554th MP Company before I finished my final year with the Fort Devens MP Company in Massachusetts.

Challenge Accepted

When I first took on this challenge, I was excited. I thought It was going to be easy. As the month wore on, I discovered this challenge was harder than I originally thought. I thought it would be a cakewalk.

My first epiphany, I also realized that I wasn’t in as good of shape as I originally thought. A long winter meant that I had only ridden 195 miles when this challenge started. Pre-challenge, I thought my lower-body core was pretty good. Boy was I wrong. I didn’t get on my bike till May 4th. I had to force myself to ride through soreness and a groin injury that I suffered while I was on vacation in Cass, Lake Minnesota. I had a couple of flat tires that set me back a bit as I was nearing the end of this challenge. I made it with a day to spare. Whew!

In conclusion, I would like to thank my wife Jennifer, and daughter Abby for supporting me through this challenge. My dad Bruce Burton also was very supportive as I faced this challenge.

Finally, you’re not alone. If you’re a veteran who’s thinking of harming yourself make the call. Make the call.