Veteran Joshua Jorgensen (Adel, IA) is raising awareness about post-traumatic stress and veteran suicide in a unique way. This September, he’s running across Iowa wearing a military M-50 protective (gas) mask. This “Masked Veteran” says, “The mask represents the struggle many people face, whether it be psychological, physical, or both. It says, I’m struggling with those same things, but I’m getting up every day and I’m doing this and I’m putting myself in an even bigger struggle, because I know there’s an end and I can make it through it, so can you.”
During the event called “Masked Veteran Running Across Iowa”, Jorgensen will take on a grueling feat of endurance running 30-40 miles every day as he crosses the state wearing the mask to raise funds and awareness of post-traumatic stress and veteran suicide. With the assistance of Team Fidelis of Kansas City, he will begin his journey at 0800 on September 13 in Council Bluffs, IA crossing the state and end at 5pm on September 24 in Burlington, IA.
Not only will Jorgensen have the grueling test of running 30-40 miles every day while fighting the heat and humidity of the Iowa fall, he will also have the added difficulty of restricted breathing due to an essential piece of gear being used every day in the constant fight against terrorism all over the world. Jorgensen is a former 101st Airborne Soldier and Iraq Veteran concerned about the current suicide rate of Veterans across America. Learn more about his training and follow his journey on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/maskedvetrun/. Find out more about Team Fidelis here https://teamfidelis.org.
Harvey T. Rimel American Legion Post 141 