NFL Legend Brian Dawkins Reflects on Marching in 5K with US Veterans for Suicide Prevention: ‘Honor to Me’

Brian Dawkinsone of the most feared defenders football has ever seen has always been outspoken when it comes to mental health issues and how he overcame his own.

He took time to discuss these issues in his Hall of Fame speech and continues to be an advocate for those who are struggling, including the U.S. military veterans.

In partnership with USAA, the Wounded Warrior Project and Face The Fight, Dawkins recently traveled to San Antonio to participate in a ruck march to raise awareness about mental health care, and more specifically, the ever-important mission of fighting of veteran suicide prevention. .

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The 5K ruck march is done with bags weighing more than 50 pounds worn across the body, symbolizing the mental and emotional toll veterans endure after fighting for our freedoms.

“To be honest, if it were up to me, I would want more weight,” Dawkins said of the weighted backpacks. “I wanted to have a lot more weight in my bag for that very reason, to know what they sacrificed and what they had to deal with. Obviously it won’t be the same, but the symbolic message behind it, how much weight they brought to being in the military in the first place, with the training, the discipline that it takes to do what they do. Then some of the things they were asked to do for the country, and the trauma that comes with having those memories.

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“So with that said, it was a great honor for me to be in the presence of our heroes and listen to their stories. To really and totally shut up and listen to what they wanted to talk about, and what you hear is the resilience of our veterans. The willingness to get back up, to fight, and that they haven’t always been in that place. Some of them were in a place where they didn’t want to get up, they didn’t want to go any further.”

Dawkins posted a video of the event, which also featured a roundtable discussion with the veterans as they shared their stories of battling mental health and wanting to help those around them.

“First of all, when you go to the event and stop, you immediately notice that you are in a different place,” Dawkins recalls. “I don’t want to be too explicit for people, but some cats are missing arms and some cats are missing legs. Some people are facially disfigured, so you’re in a different place, right? It hits you and it dawns on you that the reason why they are like this is because they fought – fought for the US

“The things that our veterans continue to fight through — it depends on the individual and it depends on the trauma in their lives — but it’s a lifelong struggle for these individuals.”

After interacting with the veterans and learning about their personal journeys, Dawkins’ appreciation for what she and so many others do to protect our freedoms was greatly enhanced.

Now that he’s in the position he’s in as a NFL legendDawkins is doing his part to spread the message.

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“I’m blessed to have some understanding and some strength from my walk and my things that I’ve grown through in my life. So if I can then use the platform that I have been blessed to do, the Lord has blessed me to now draw more attention and once again amplify the message of our veterans and helping them however you can help them.”

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