BRIGHT RSL was the starting point for Wodonga RSL president Jaime Wolf's mammoth walk to Wodonga RSL last week, in support of local veterans and police living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Mr Wolf set off at 2:30pm last Thursday and walked via Myrtleford and Beechworth RSLs, arriving safely at the Wodonga RSL Club at 4:30pm the following day.
"It's important we draw attention to the welfare of veterans and police," he said.
"Police and military have worked together whilst deployed on operations around the world, which I have firsthand experience of whilst serving in Timor-Leste.
"We have seen a 20 per cent higher suicide rate within these groups than amongst average people.
Latest Stories
"The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and local police have recently had fatalities from suicide.
"It sends a shiver up your spine thinking about it and that's why we want to raise awareness.
"Our goal was to raise $5000, which we have already raised even before we stepped off on this trek, which is just fantastic!
"This trek is to raise awareness in the lead up to the Poppy Appeal, which runs from October 28 to November 11."
Mr Wolf said the walk was the same length as the Kokoda Track, at 96 kilometres, which he walked in 2022 to raise money for young veterans.
"People have been very supportive; volunteering catering, offering to open their doors up in the early hours of the morning and offering their support along the walk route," he said.
"I really want to acknowledge the volunteers who run the RSLs, they are its lifeblood."
