Air Force veteran and retired firefighter Patrick Romeo is embarking on a motorcycle journey from Florida to Alaska to raise funds for service members with PTSD.
This is Romeo’s second participation in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge, a 10,000-mile ride from Daytona Beach, Florida, to Homer, Alaska, with 999 other riders. The challenge requires participants to navigate without GPS, relying only on directions from checkpoints, and to sleep outdoors with their bikes.
Romeo is working with the Resurrecting Lives Foundation to support veterans and civilians dealing with PTSD. This foundation helps veterans transition back to civilian life.
Inspired by the launch of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Romeo decided to participate again. “After completing it in 2020, I thought I’d never do it again,” he said on “NewsNation Now.” “But the high rate of veteran suicides compelled me to raise awareness for the 988 number, which is crucial for both veterans and the general public.”