04/18/2026
With all the excitement of this incredible day, it’s imperative that we look back to the start.
At just 17 Chad left out for boot camp in California. His mentality being “Maybe if I go now, my children won’t have to.”
2 years later Chad would start showing signs of PTSD, but in 2006, toughen up was the response to this life threatening illness. Leaving Chad to handle his symptoms on his own.
1 year later all the symptoms of PTSD were readily apparent. Nightmares, hallucinations, sleepless nights, and erratic behavior were the norm.
When the military finally accepted Chads plea, there was an agonizingly long wait just to get the help he needed.
There were days where there were so many meds in Chads system that friends and family reported that he sounded extremely intoxicated.
When Chad died, he had 12 different prescriptions in system. An oversight by the VA that took the life of a soldier, a brother, a friend, and a son.
Unfortunately Chads story is not a one time occurrence. Our PTSD Awareness Fundraiser was built on educating the public and providing life saving, non pharmaceutical treatment, to our veterans.
Please reach out if you need help. You are not alone.
