22 is 22 too many...Man Walks Coast to Coast to End Veteran Suicide

A Man Walks Coast to Coast on Crusade to End Veteran Suicide

CHEYENNE (KGWN) – 22 is 22 too many…Those numbers represent the number of veterans who commit suicide every day.

To help raise awareness – a retired marine veteran and police officer, Toby Flaget, is walking coast to coast to promote suicide awareness and prevention.

“Instead of fixing the blame, I’m working on raising awareness so we can work on fixing the problem,” says Flaget.

Flagged is walking across the United States to promote suicide awareness and prevention. “It’s bigger than I ever anticipated and I’m not the only one coping with the loss of loved ones.”

Seven of Toby’s friends lost the battle to suicide in a two- month period last year. And like other veterans, he wants to do more to help prevent the loss of our country’s heroes and says veteran’s can reach out for help.

“They are afraid if they come and get help, they are put on some stupid little blacklist that they are constantly being watched,” says Cheryl Shannon, a VFW Department Commander.

He wants to help them find their voice and learn to express themselves again. “I was raised to never shed a tear, no matter what it’s hard not to when you lose your buddies,” says Quarter Master of VFW Post 1881, John Derouen.

With strong support, Toby works to help the community understand the triggers, which cause painful memories to resurface. “Don’t single us out but be aware anything and everything could be a trigger to set us off,” explains Derouen.

Factors which make coping seem impossible and often puts veterans in danger. “There’s other avenues and it would be nice if they felt comfortable enough to go and ask for help,” adds Shannon.

Toby is walking he says – because each step brings his fellow veterans one step closer to the help they need. “If people see this interview, or see our trucks or shirts with the websites, we hope people can spread the word faster,” says Flaget.

And for one simple reason… one death is too many.

Toby walks alongside a truck with numbers and web addresses, all resources to aid veterans who are contemplating death. To support Toby’s cause, just visit :https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tobys-Walk-for-Awareness/382102748640460?fref=ts