Three Swansea men literally walking the walk, and a lot of it, to support veterans

While some people talk about supporting veterans with little to no action, three Swansea men are walking the walk, literally.

Josh Harrington, Ethan Gonsalves, and Demetre Baltas, are on a mission to raise funds for a veteran organization by hiking.

Passionate about nature, their country, and having personal connections to those who have served, the trio deeply appreciate the hard work and sacrifices of veterans and their families and believe it’s crucial to provide them with transitional activities to help them move from combat to civilian life.

Thats where Warrior Expeditions comes in.

Since 2001, over 3 million veterans have returned home from war but many of them have never transitioned from their experiences. The Department of Veteran Affairs estimates that up to 20% of post 9/11 veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Warrior Expeditions helps combat veterans transition from their wartime experiences through long-distance outdoor therapy. Their free programs train, equip, and support veterans for a 3–6-month wilderness expedition. They provide psycho-educational training, resupply, and community support along the route. Their goal is to teach veterans to use the outdoors as a long-term coping strategy for service-related health issues and to provide the opportunity to process and recover from combat.

To raise money for that cause, the three will be hiking the Presidential Traverse in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, tackling 10 mountains in 2 days, combining their love for the outdoors with a noble cause. The hikes will take place this Friday and Saturday, covering over 25 miles.

The trio selected Warrior Expeditions due to the connection to the outdoors.

If you are interested in supporting Josh, Ethan and Demetre in their mission, click here.