Danny Bies’ new group is based on a single number — 22.
He was shocked to learn that 22 U.S. veterans kill themselves every day. When he starting planning a 22-mile run to raise money to prevent suicides, one date seemed like a logical choice — May 22.
And lest anyone forget the purpose of the group, he called it, “22 a Day is 22 Too Many!”
Bies, 32, of Cottage Grove said the idea for the group began in 2011, when a soldier in his Minnesota Army National Guard Unit killed himself.
“It affected us pretty badly,” he said. “He was a great soldier, a great husband, a stand-up guy. He showed no signs at all. It took us off guard.”
For five years, the suicide haunted Bies.
He pondered, over and over, why veterans take their own lives. “You do not feel connected. You feel lost and alone. It’s a hard thing to pinpoint,” Bies said.
Finally, in January, he was lying in bed and looking at Facebook on a laptop. It was the first time he saw the all-important number — 22 — connected to military suicides.
“I told my wife I was going to do a 22-mile march, walk or run,” Bies said.
He posted the idea on Facebook, where it quickly drew dozens of supporters. “It took off,” he said.
One of them was Joe Weverka of St. Paul. Though he is not a veteran, he supports efforts to prevent the tragedy of military suicides.
“As a civilian, I think the people who are fighting for our freedoms too often go unnoticed when they are battling depression and other mental illnesses from war,” Weverka said.
A 2012 Department of Veterans Affairs report revealed that the 22 veterans who kill themselves each day includes veterans from all wars. Those involving veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts are estimated to be one a day, according to a 2015 story by National Public Radio.
Bies’ group shares a goal with other anti-suicide groups.
“Operation: 23 to Zero” (a group that includes active-duty suicides in their count) recently placed rows of empty boots at the Minnesota Capitol as a reminder of the high rate of suicides. Groups including “22 Too Many,” “22 is 22 Too Many” and “Mission 22” organize events across the country.
Bies organized the Cottage Grove event to try to make it accessible for everyone.
It is free, and open to runners, walkers, bicyclists, parents with strollers and even skateboarders. The distances of the events vary from the 22-mile event to a short “diaper dash” for young children, who will travel 22 meters.
Bies has no idea how many people might attend. “Between 15 and 300,” he said.
T-shirts will be sold for $22. All money raised will go to the Bryan McDonough Military Heroes Foundation, named after a Minnesota National Guard soldier killed in Iraq in 2006.
IF YOU GO
What: “22 a Day is 22 Too Many” fundraising event
When: 7 a.m. registration; wheel, run and walk events staggered, beginning at 8 a.m.
Where: Minnesota National Guard Armory, 8180 Belden Blvd., Cottage Grove
Also: Open to any form of nonmotorized transportation. A shuttle bus will patrol the route to pick up anyone who wants to stop at any point.
More information: facebook.com/events/188050998220492/