Page 387 - Total War on PTSD

were elite athletes in various sports. I was honorably discharged from the military in 2011 and within a year I discovered kayaking to be a source of relief and rehabilitation in coping with post-military life and, at the same time, roughly two years later, I created my non-profit. In establishing myself as a recognized athlete in the extreme kayaking community, I learned that outdoor sporting is as reliant on its community as it is on the activities themselves.
Since coming to this realization, I shaped my passion and focus around sharing the benefits of outdoor recreation with Veterans of the U.S. Military also inflicted with Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Depression. The outdoors had a huge impact on my overall mental and physical health. I always thought there should be an easier way for more Veterans to get involved in extreme outdoor sports. I truly believe it speeds up the transition back into the civilian lifestyle.
It was, however, when one of my best friends (Chad Cook, who I served alongside when still in the military) unfortunately took his own life due to the effects of PTSD, and after losing him and several other close friends, that I decided, and I knew, that something had to be done. In 2017, with the help of some of my other best friends and some local funding, we put together a plan for the non-profit 501(c)(3) to help Veterans struggling with PTSD to provide them with an outlet through nature and outdoor sports. The Board of Directors for P.T.S.D. is composed of colleagues sharing similar interests and passion in the benefits of therapeutic sporting. Seeing the benefits of outdoor recreation on PTSD first-hand, I want to encourage Veterans to work towards discovering hope and possibility in post-military life. The outdoor sporting community holds a unique fellowship, similar
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