GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A group of Saint Norbert ROTC students are taking the phrase ‘walk a mile in their shoes’ seriously.
Four students are on a mission to walk 140 miles to Milwaukee in an effort to raise awareness for veteran suicide.
“Right now, veterans are killing themselves at a rate of about 20 a day so we’re trying to raise $20,000 for the 4th H.O.O.A.H,” St. Norbert senior Jason Ortscheid said.
H.O.O.A.H stands for helping out our American heroes.
“We like to really gear towards the bonding experience for the veterans in the military that take part in all of our programs,” 4th H.O.A.A.H. chapter president Tammy Hardwick said.
“They’ll take a group of veterans scuba diving, they’ll go skydiving, they help provide service dogs for veterans in need,” Ortscheid said.
The students tells FOX 11 they’ve been preparing for this journey for months.
The rucksacks they carry can range from 45-50 pounds.
“When I was told that I would be on the team at the beginning of summer, I did a couple of training ruck marches just around town going 3, 5 miles just kind of working my way up to mentally prepare for how it’s going to be and get the physical strength up as well,” St. Norbert junior Chris Rosene said.
“It’s quite an undertaking doing a lot of rucking as we call it… walking around the big packs on,” Ortscheid said.
Ortschied tells FOX 11 that engagement during the march could be more difficult due to COVID-19.
“We’re all going to have masks on, we’ll social distance so please don’t be afraid to come and talk to us.”
St. Norbert junior Chris Rosene tells FOX 11 the walk will be tough…
“But with the support of everyone and the thought of our veterans in the back of our heads the entire time, it’s going to be pretty easy I think to push through.”
To follow the students’ journey, click here.
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