There are always thousands of encouraging and inspiring examples of how far we can get thanks to a strong will and passion for what we do, especially when the hard reality of others we feel empathy for is involved in the process. Josh Collins is an ex-operator of the Army Special Operations Delta Force. This former soldier from Miami has crossed a long distance for coming home: a journey of 3,500 miles, not only for breaking a Paddleboard record, but to show himself and others what happens when we break our mental limits. This journey pretends to raise money for the Task Force Dagger Foundation, an organization that helps veterans who suffer from TBI and PTSD.
Image courtesy of [email protected] at Flickr.com
His trip was called “Veteran Voyage 360”, and it has been the longest journey by stand up paddleboard. The amazing fact is that he had no sponsorship and he’s doing this by himself. The motivation is double: on one hand, he wants to aware the country and the world about the twenty-two vets that kill themselves every day because of post-traumatic stress and traumatic injuries produced by war. On the second hand, “my purpose is to refind myself,” he said to the Miami Herald. “We think brain injury and we automatically think forgetfulness and loss of motor functions, but our personality and behavior are in our brain as well. We’ve seen football players become demented and depressed and kill themselves because of brain damage from all the hits. Our veterans are going through the same torment. Each day, 22 vets commit suicide.”
Collins lost all hopes at some point. Just like the veterans who suffer from the same disorders and injuries, he thought that his career was a total failure. Nevertheless, in helping others he has found another path to victory. The mission of his trip and the Task Force Dagger Foundation is to collect at least twenty-two million dollars. With this money, vets from all the country would receive proper help for overcoming the tough reality after war.
Collins lost all hopes at some point. Just like the veterans who suffer from the same disorders and injuries, he thought that his career was a total failure. Nevertheless, in helping others he has found another path to victory. The mission of his trip and the Task Force Dagger Foundation is to collect at least twenty-two million dollars. With this money, vets from all the country would receive proper help for overcoming the tough reality after war.
Image courtesy of Morning Calm Weekly Newspaper Installation Management Command, U.S. Army at Flickr.com
Collins fought in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq. After several battles, against terrorism and his own fears, he suffered from different brain, eyes, spine and inner ear injuries that may cause serious sequels. Two years ago, when Josh was under physical and mental therapy, his wife, Tonia, gave him a paddleboard as a present. It sounded like a good idea. Of course, it was a very difficult activity at the beginning, but little by little he realized that nothing is impossible when you focus your energy in a certain point and leave your guts on it. He retired from the force eight years ago. After his retirement, Collins kept supporting the military as an independent servicer in the United States and other countries. What made him quit working with the Special Operations was a serious concussion he suffered during a training three years ago. After his hospitalization and subsequent treatment, his military life was over. However, it was the beginning of something else.
Collins trip has taken him all over the east coast of the United States, and has called it “Operation Phoenix”, in reference of the mythological bird that rises from ashes after death. He started in Corpus Christi, Texas, and his destination is the New York City coast. He expects to arrive at the end of July, depending on weather and ocean conditions. After boarding across the Gulf Coast, Josh arrived in Miami this month for participating in the Windhaven Insurance Orange Bowl Paddle Championship at the Miami Marine Stadium Flexpark, one of the biggest events of paddle boarding in the whole world. His home city welcomed him with American flags and honored him with a proclamation. In addition, important donations were made to the Task Force Dagger Foundation
One of the harder task for Collins is to find equilibrium. After his hospitalization, he self-prescribed drugs and alcohol until he stopped thanks to doctors and family intervention. Also in his body: one of his injuries, in the inner ear, in the right eye and the spine, has caused difficulties for Josh to walk on dry ground. “Everything holds still when I’m on the water,” he said to the Miami Herald. Water is his new territory, where he finds his inner and physical balance.
Collins trip has taken him all over the east coast of the United States, and has called it “Operation Phoenix”, in reference of the mythological bird that rises from ashes after death. He started in Corpus Christi, Texas, and his destination is the New York City coast. He expects to arrive at the end of July, depending on weather and ocean conditions. After boarding across the Gulf Coast, Josh arrived in Miami this month for participating in the Windhaven Insurance Orange Bowl Paddle Championship at the Miami Marine Stadium Flexpark, one of the biggest events of paddle boarding in the whole world. His home city welcomed him with American flags and honored him with a proclamation. In addition, important donations were made to the Task Force Dagger Foundation
One of the harder task for Collins is to find equilibrium. After his hospitalization, he self-prescribed drugs and alcohol until he stopped thanks to doctors and family intervention. Also in his body: one of his injuries, in the inner ear, in the right eye and the spine, has caused difficulties for Josh to walk on dry ground. “Everything holds still when I’m on the water,” he said to the Miami Herald. Water is his new territory, where he finds his inner and physical balance.
Image courtesy of Veteran Voyage 360 at facebook.com
If you want to follow Josh Collins’ journey on Facebook, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/veteranvoyage360
If you want more information about the Task Force Dagger Foundation, this is the official website:
http://www.taskforcedagger.org.
https://www.facebook.com/veteranvoyage360
If you want more information about the Task Force Dagger Foundation, this is the official website:
http://www.taskforcedagger.org.