FORMER ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS DELTA FORCE OPERATER TO PADDLE BOARD FROM TEXAS TO NEW YORK TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR THE HIGH RATE OF SUICIDE AMONG SERVICEMEMBERS
Former Army Special Operations Delta Force Operator Josh Collins has set his sights on completing the first ever nonstop, unassisted, man-powered voyage by small vessel around the world. Dubbed “Veteran Voyage 360” the first leg of his trip kicked off on March 5th paddling 3,500 miles on a Stand-Up Paddle Board from Corpus Christi, Texas and end in New York City at the end of July. Collins is calling his trip along the East Coast “Operation Phoenix.”
The purpose of his trip is to raise awareness for the 22 veterans a day who commit suicide, while at the same time raise money for the “Task Force Dagger Foundation” – which supports veterans with TBI and PTSD. Josh credits “Task Force Dagger” for helping to save his life, saying the foundation provided for his family while he was hospitalized, and helped him find treatment options for traumatic brain injury that allowed him to stop his reliance on a cocktail of prescription drugs.
For Josh this voyage is the ultimate triumph over “disability”, the diagnosis, the medications, the alcohol, the pain and the loss. A former member of the elite US Army Delta Force and an Army Ranger, Josh deployed several times to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bosnia. Josh is also a wounded warrior. He suffers from numerous Traumatic Brain Injuries. At first Josh had a rough time dealing with his injuries; popping prescribed medications and self-medicating with alcohol, he eventually reached his limits and ability to function and was hospitalized for sustained TBI therapy.
After his hospitalization, his wife Tonia purchased him a Stand-up Paddle Board for recreational therapy.
It was on the water that Josh found a sanctuary. Severe vestibular (inner ear) damage, nerve damage and palsy in his right eye, and cervical spine compression now fused, left him continuously off balance on dry ground, but the rolling surf calmed him and in his words, “Everything holds still when I’m on the water.”
Having nearly lost it all, he is now determined to make a difference in helping other Veterans navigate these perilous waters of life after combat. His mission is to raise $22 Million dollars with this Guinness World Record, the “Longest Journey by Stand Up Paddleboard”, and also with the Global Row thereafter.
Avg – 35m +/- per day
Consider one day each planned event/rally + 12 days
How many historical weather days to expect? If 20% = 18 days.
Total overage days = 30 days.
Equals 102 Travel Days and 30 Overage Days (Rally or Weather)
FB: https://www.facebook.com/veteranvoyage360/
TWITTER: @OPPHX1
WEBSITE: http://www.veteranvoyage360.com/ (THIS WEB SITE WILL HAVE A “SPOT” TRACKER)
https://www.boteboard.com/operation-phoenix/
To see a detailed list of Josh’s schedule please check out his Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/veteranvoyage360/
For more background on Josh’s journey please click here:
https://www.boteboard.com/operation-phoenix/