I really look forward to seeing everyone at the Run As One. Its going to be a great time and a lot of fun stuff afterwards. A race like this means a lot to me and to a lot of others. This run is to remember the memory of Marine Corps veteran Clay Hunt (who was a founding member of Team Rubicon) and also aims to highlight the civic leadership, action-orientation, and collaborative mindset of this generation of veterans. After battling with PTSD Clay took his own life in his apartment in late March 2011. This strikes home for me, I have lost a close friend to PTSD. Cpl. Shane “Panada” Shores killed himself a few years ago. I very close friend of mine who did two deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He fought like a bear, but always carried a smile, no matter what he did. Shane suffered from PTSD and fought it constantly after he returned home. I got to spend one of the last nights he was alive with him. Little did I know that two days later I would get a phone call saying that Shane took his life. So many times I think about Panada, but now I can only visit his head stone at Barrancas, cry and wonder why my friend felt that he couldn’t say anything to me. I will never get to know the answer to that. It would mean the world to me if we could get as many people out to this event as possible. One, to have a great time and to enjoy each others company, but to remember Clay, Panda, and so many others who think that there is no way out but suicide. I will be out there running, but running for Panda, I will have his name tap with me as I run so he can motivate me. I hope to see all of you out there!! Semper Fidelis!!
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 12:07:44 +0000