Home / Health / Veteran Runs 500 Miles for Mental Health Awareness
Veteran Runs 500 Miles for Mental Health Awareness
22 May
Summary
- A veteran is running 500 miles in 50 days for mental health awareness.
- Each daily run honors a fallen service member struggling with mental health.
- The challenge aims to raise funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Jake Prusha, a 26-year-old U.S. Coast Guard veteran, is currently engaged in a significant undertaking to support military mental health. He is running 500 miles over 50 days, completing 10 miles daily. This endeavor is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Prusha's challenge is particularly poignant as each 10-mile run honors a different military service member from one of the 50 states who lost their life due to mental health struggles. Often, a resident from that state joins him to run, commemorating the service member's memory.
This initiative addresses the stark reality that military members and veterans face higher rates of depression, substance use disorders, and suicide compared to the general population. In 2023, nearly 6,400 veterans died by suicide, according to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs data.
Prusha, who previously raised over $20,000 in 2025 through a demanding workout challenge, aims to make discussing mental health easier. He will return to his hometown of Hillsdale on Saturday, May 23, 2026, to run 10 miles around the Pascack Valley High School track, inviting the community to join. The challenge is set to conclude on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, with a final 10-mile run.
