22Is22TooMany

On July 25th, I will lock up my photography studio, get on my bicycle, and ride about 3500 miles across the United States from Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania to San Diego, California. I’m doing it with zero dollars in my pocket because I want this ride to reflect a truth too many veterans know well: what it feels like to keep moving forward while carrying pain, uncertainty, and invisible weight.

I’m a Marine Corps combat veteran who completed two tours in Afghanistan, and when I came home, I spent a long time searching for clarity, connection, and purpose. Photography helped me rebuild my life and create a business centered on helping people see themselves with confidence, but too many of my brothers and sisters are still fighting PTSD, depression, isolation, and hopelessness without the support they need.

This mission is built around one message: 22 is 22 too many. My route is broken into 22-mile tactical blocks as a visible reminder that veteran suicide is not a distant issue — it is happening here at home, every single day. Fifty percent of funds raised will go directly to organizations supporting veteran mental health and suicide prevention, including groups such as Battle Borne and national programs like Wounded Warrior Project, while the other 50% helps cover the minimum gear and safety needs required to complete the ride.[web:31]

Whether you donate, buy merchandise, share this mission, or help connect me with safe places to rest along the way, you become part of the effort to remind veterans that they are not alone. Follow the journey for daily updates, mileage logs, photos, and stories from the road as we push this message across the country and work to bring that number down to zero.