Two Students Holding Benefit for PTSD
Brave American military personnel willingly put themselves in danger in service to their country every day. The effects of this kind of activity causes some veterans to experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
According to information put out by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “Most people have some stress-related reactions after a traumatic event… In moments of danger, our bodies prepare to fight our enemy, flee the situation, or freeze in the hope that the danger will move past us. But those feelings of alertness may stay even after the danger has passed.” This can lead to anxiety, depression, anger and more.
To help in awareness and prevention of PTSD, two seniors at North Shore High School are holding a benefit event this month.
Dillon Seudat and Gregory Knox will hold “Shots 4 Soldiers,” a benefit basketball tournament with proceeds going to the National Veterans Association, specifically towards veterans with PTSD.
This is a senior project for the two students, part of the Generation Next curriculum in which seniors do a service project.
Why Vets with PTSD? Greg joined the Marine Corps recently. He told Anton Community Newspapers, “I felt I should do something to help my brothers in arms.” He goes to boot camp this summer, then to Marine combat training, and finally to MOS school where he’ll train for the job he’ll be doing in the Marines. Greg was chosen to perform ground communications based on an Armed Services vocational aptitude test. He got a good physics score, so he will be entrusted to make sure communications are running on the ground.
Dillon and Greg have been friends since kindergarten so they thought they might as well do their project together, helping out veterans in the process.
“It’s a good cause and I thought it was a good way to help out the community and show spirit… and to help my friend out as best as I could,” Dillon said.
They chose the basketball tournament because it will be fun and sports are a great way to get people together. They have been going to different schools around the local area, trying to get kids to sign up for the competition.
Young residents are encouraged to sign up to play and donation and sponsorship is welcome from the community.
“100 percent of the proceeds is going straight to PTSD therapy and treatment,” Greg said.
“It’s a big deal coming back with something like that,” Dillon added. “It is life changing and we want to help.”
The tournament will be three on three with students choosing their own teams. There will be grades 9 -10 and 11-12 divisions. They would like to have five teams per division with 10 teams per school. The games will be played at North Shore High School. Games will be six or seven minutes, half court, with 6 games at a time, self-reffed.
If interested in donating or getting involved email shots4soliders@aol.com.
