Leidos volunteers trek 57 kilometers for Australian veterans
Runners and support team of Bravery Trek 2022. Photo: Bravery Trust
Leidos Australia employees traveled 57 kilometers and raised nearly AU$20,000 (roughly $12,000) for Australian veterans during Bravery Trek 2022, a virtual fundraising event where volunteers have 30 days to walk, swim, cycle or wheelchair a similar distance of an iconic military related route.
Organizers hope to raise AU$100,000 (roughly $64,000) in support of Bravery Trust, a nonprofit that provides financial relief and counseling to Australian veterans experiencing physical and mental health challenges as a result of their service.
Why you should know: A recent study shows nearly half of Australian military veterans suffer from a mental disorder. Mental illness can limit a veteran’s earning capacity and lead to financial hardship, according to Bravery Trust.
Bravery Trust has provided more than $7 million of urgent financial aid to 6,000 families over the last decade. Nearly 70% of those who reach out to Bravery Trust for assistance are under the age of 50.
Leidos impact: As the founding sponsor of the Trek, volunteers from Leidos Australia helped plan and execute the 2022 campaign. To launch the event, Leidos Australia VP Murray Bruce and Event Coordinator Hannah Stock joined nine other runners to complete a 57 kilometer course around Sydney Harbor, passing through four major naval bases. The course serves as the virtual trek volunteers use to track their progress.
Bruce said he ran in honor of a close friend who served in Afghanistan and sadly took his own life last year.
From the sources:
- “The challenges he faced following his service got to be too much,” says Bruce. “People dig themselves into a hole and can't dig their way out. We want our vets to have the courage to reach out when they need help. The financial relief and counselling Bravery Trust provides can help prevent issues from escalating before it’s too late.”
- “Bravery Trek has become a collaborative event, showcasing the amazing things that can happen when corporations and charities align,” says Bravery Trust CEO Belinda Wilson. “True partnership is more than a donation, and we are sincerely grateful for the gift of support we continue to receive from Leidos.”
In addition to supporting the Trek, each year Leidos Australia makes a corporate donation to the Bravery Trust. Over the past six years the company has donated nearly AU$350,000.
To donate, please visit the Bravery Trek website.
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