Many veterans return home with dark memories of their time in combat, with post-traumatic stress disorder, or with permanent injuries; and an event in Knoxville on Saturday is aimed at helping vets deal with the potential for suicide, and with the long-term effects of their wounds.
“Fitness for Heroes” will be held at KNX Fitness on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. Veterans and civilians alike will be going through a workout regimen; proceeds will go to the Catch a Lift Fund, which helps support suicide prevention and physical rehabilitation for veterans.
Chris Gordon from KNX Fitness tells KNIA/KRLS News many veterans feel detached from civilian life after getting out of the service, which makes it harder to deal with their problems; he says this event gives them the military camaraderie they’ve been missing.
“What we try to do is get them into an environment that is both welcoming and supportive, encourage them; and then also it gives help (to) try and bring back some, some purpose they may have lost in their life,” Gordon says.
The Catch a Lift fund says an average of 22 veterans commit suicide daily, as a result of the physical and mental injuries they suffered in combat.