My name is Patrick Romeo, returning rider 988. In 2020, I rode for Resurrecting Lives Foundation. They are a foundation whose mission is "to coordinate & advocate for the successful transition to a post-military career & life for veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI)." Finishing in thirteen days and having accomplished what I set out to do, I didn’t think I would do the ride again, having nothing to prove. Then, in July of 2022, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's 10-digit number was replaced with the roll-out of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Knowing 22 veterans die by suicide daily in the United States and that the VA estimates veteran suicides at slightly more than 1.5 times higher than that of non-veterans (even higher for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Veterans), the fact that the new three-digit phone number and my rider were both 988 seemed more than coincidence. It was too late to enter the 2022 Hoka Hey, so I called Dr. Gordon (Founder of Resurrecting Lives Foundation) to inform her of the 988 connection and that I was once again riding the Hoka Hey in 2024. So, while I will be once again riding for the Resurrecting Lives Foundation and our Veterans, our focus this year will be on Veteran suicides and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline.
