Caleb Wedger says he’s seen his share of darkness.
“It’s tough when someone makes a decision to take their own life,” he said. “It leaves an open wound. It’s a book you really can’t close.”
He’s also seen his share of light.
“Serving in the United States military, I think almost anyone would tell you, it gives you more than you give it,” Wedger declared.
Saturday is Minnesota Veteran Suicide Prevention and Awareness Day.
The Department of Veterans Affairs says, each year, 100 Minnesota veterans take their own lives.
Wedger, 32, a former Minnesota Air National Guard member, is training for a special long-distance mission to raise awareness about veteran suicide.
He calls his plan “100 too many.”
“I think 10 would have floored me, 100 seemed crazy,” Wedger said. “I’m going to run 100 miles. I’m going to do one mile for each veteran that takes their lives.”
This Friday and Saturday, he plans to run a 26-mile trail route four times, between North Branch and Hugo.
Wedger is using his social media to connect with sponsors. The goal is to raise $10,000, or $100 a mile.
“I instantly started thinking like that number isn’t 100, that number is 500, 600, 800 people that are affected,” he noted. “That’s grieving mothers and wives and children.”
For this Ham Lake husband and father of two, this is personal.
Wedger’s father died by suicide in 2010.
“Working through his suicide, I left for basic training two weeks after he took his life,” he recalled. “He has always struggled with alcohol, so that mixed with depression, and maybe not having the resources.”
Now, to help others, Wedger will donate the money he raises to the Freedom Fishing Foundation. The Lino Lakes nonprofit takes veterans out on individual or group fishing trips.
Donations can be made here.
