Veterans Denali Expedition

 My name is John Krueger and I am a Marine Veteran that served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. When I got out of the Marine Corps I found Veterans Expeditions, a Colorado-based non-profit that uses wilderness challenges to connect veterans, create community and raise awareness. VetEx has played a huge role in my reintegration to life after war. The friends I have made and the experiences I have had through VetEx continue to help me with the struggles of PTSD.

 In May, I will attempt to reach the summit of Denali (Mt McKinely) with a team of 6 other veterans and a journalist who will document our journey. Our team name is “8 for 22” which represents our team of 8 climbing to raise awareness about the 22 veterans who kill themselves each day.  We are climbing not only to raise awareness of veteran’s suicides, but also to empower other veterans to get outside and build relationships through the outdoors.

        Your donation will help me pay for some of the mountaineering gear that I will be using during the expedition and the flights to the mountain. We have been working hard to secure sponsorships and have already acquired some of the needed gear, but we have some other items to buy to be successful on this expedition.

        I appreciate your support not only financially, but also to help spread awareness about the challenges that the men and women of our armed forces face when they return home. Veterans often struggle upon returning home; over 22 veterans a day commit suicide and many others turn to substance abuse and violence to cope with the overwhelming difficulties faced after service. Through programs like Veteran Expeditions, some are finding a different way.

If you’d like to be part of our effort to reach the top of North America and raise awareness about veteran suicide, please donate today.