They Did Hard Things For Us. I Can Do Something For Them.
On March 20th, 2003, the first boots hit the ground in Iraq as Operation Iraqi Freedom began. Thousands of young men and women — many of them barely adults — stepped into the unknown. They didn’t hesitate. They signed up to do hard things. Very hard things. For us.
On March 20th, 2025 — the anniversary of that day — I’ll lace up my shoes and start walking.
I’m “Doc” Marlow, and I’m rucking 48 miles over two days to raise money for Mission 22, an organization dedicated to preventing veteran suicide and supporting those who’ve borne the cost of their service long after they came home.
Why 48 Miles?
Because hard things matter.
I’m not a veteran. I haven’t done what they’ve done. But I have friends and family who served. I’ve watched some of them come home changed — carrying invisible weight that never quite leaves them. Struggling to sleep, to connect, to find a reason to stay. Some are still fighting that battle every single day.
22 veterans die by suicide every day in America. Let that number sink in. They survived deployments, combat, and years away from everything they loved — only to lose the battle at home.
I can’t undo that. But I can show up. I can do something hard in their honor and raise money for the people working to change that number.
The Details
- Date: March 20–21, 2025
- Location: Happy Rock Park, Gladstone, MO
- Distance: 48 miles — 24 miles each day
- Solo. Just me, my ruck, and a whole lot of gratitude for those who served.
I’ve never done anything close to this distance. My legs will hurt. I’ll want to quit. And every time that happens, I’ll think about what the men and women I’m walking for have endured — and I’ll keep moving.
How You Can Help
You don’t have to walk a single step. But you can make every step I take count.
Donate to my GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/176945fc1
Every dollar goes directly to Mission 22’s programs — mental health retreats, treatment assistance, and outreach for veterans in crisis. Learn more about their work at mission22.org.
Share this post. Tell someone. That costs nothing and means everything.
They did hard things for us. The least we can do is show up for them.
— “Doc” Marlow