On Saturday, April 8th, the A-State Boys Motorcycle Club Hampton Chapter hosted a Marble Run at Hogskin to support the We Are the 22 (WAT22). A spokesperson from A-State Boys M/C said they had 37 bikes enter and raised over $1900 for WAT22. Plaques were awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place.
We Are the 22 is an Arkansas’ Veteran Suicide Intervention Team. The organization has a laser focus on peer-to-peer, face-to-face intervention with a veteran in a suicidal crisis. They use a two-person team of veteran volunteer Responders to immediately go to the veteran in crisis upon receiving an alert. With an operating memorandum of understanding with the Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care Center and cooperative relationships with law enforcement organizations around the state, We Are the 22 has already saved over 400 lives since it started in Arkansas.
We Are the 22 name comes from governmental research that indicates 22 veterans commit suicide every day. The need is real, and our interventions are effective. In 2018, there were 547 suicides in Arkansas. That is more than double the number of homicides. Veterans commit suicide at roughly twice the rate of non-veterans.
The Marble Run consisted of five stops where riders pulled for different marbles. At the end of the run, the marbles were worth points. A 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Plaque was presented to the top three riders. The A-State Boys M/C Hampton Chapter members include Nick Ferrell, Jackson Reynolds, Jon Blann, and Matt Ault. A spokesperson from A-State Boys M/C wanted to express gratitude to all the riders and members that made this event a success. Also, to the Hogskin Committee for including the Marble Run in this year’s festivals. Nick Ferrell said, “This was our second year doing this with Hogskin, and we look forward to doing this next year bigger and better for this worthy organization. We appreciate all the riders and donors to this year's event.”
For additional information on the We Are the 22 Organization visit http:// wearethe22.org/ or call (855) 932-7384.
