A Wisconsin family will be kicking off its 3rd Annual MCU 4 Vets in Manitowoc this year.
Cayla Gregory and her father, Bruce Harned, began the ruck march fundraiser in 2024 as a way to raise money for veteran-focused organizations in partnership with the Marine Credit Union Foundation.
The idea for the march began when Cayla and her Air Force veteran husband Steve lost a friend to suicide, linked to his time in service.
“It’s just one of those things that was just deeply rooted within us to start something that would do more,” Cayla explained. “As it stands today, on average, 22 veterans commit suicide daily, and we just don’t want to see that number grow any. We would like to see it get to zero.”
The father-daughter duo will march 162 miles over a seven-day stretch, beginning at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum on June 15th.
“We plan to use the USS Cobia as our backdrop, and then we will be ending the march in Fox Lake, Wisconsin, at the American Legion,” Cayla noted. “The reason that we are going back to Fox Lake is because that is my hometown American Legion to signify that we are going home as so many veterans have not had the privilege to do.”
Bruce told SeehaferNews.com that if you would like to join them for a stretch, you are more than welcome to.
“Three gentlemen joined us last year, off and on. They came in for one day or two days,” he revealed. “But it’s just basically Cayla and I just doing daughter-dad things. We’re walking on the backcountry roads and protecting her from cars and dogs.”
This year, money raised will go towards Old Glory Honor Flight, and Horse Sense for Heroes.
They have also helped pay off a veteran’s school loan debt so she could get back on her feet.
You can follow Cayla and Bruce’s journey either on Facebook or Tik Tok.
Donations can be sent to the Marine Credit Union Foundation via Venmo via the QR Code below.
