Folks are invited to stretch their legs this Saturday and go on a long walk for a good cause.

The Fourth Annual Ruck for the Fallen is still looking for participants and volunteers.

Organized by Project Brotherhood Resolve, the 23-mile walk along M-24 is designed to raise funds and awareness to help military veterans struggling with homelessness and thoughts of suicide. It’s also meant to remind them that they’re not alone or forgotten.

“I feel that we owe it to our veterans. We need to support them,” said Ruck for the Fallen Coordinator Donnal Hillard, of Lapeer Township. “They’ve done a lot for us and they don’t ask for anything in return. The least we can do is (extend) a hand to try to help save them.”

On Sept. 7, Ruck for the Fallen walkers will gather at the Orion Veterans Memorial, located at M-24 and Odanah Ave. in Orion Township, then proceed north along M-24 until they reach Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4139 in Lapeer. The walk takes participants through a number of communities, including Oxford Township and Village.

Depending on how physically fit a walker is and how many breaks he or she may require, it should take participants anywhere from six to nine hours to complete the journey.

On-site registration starts at 6 a.m. The walk begins at 8 a.m. Walkers can sign up ahead of time by visiting the Project Brotherhood Resolve Facebook page.

It costs $30 to participate as a walker. Volunteers can take part for free.

Last week, Hillard said approximately 45 walkers had registered.

“More of them are signing up every day so that’s a good thing,” she said.

Hillard noted participants do not have to walk the entire 23 miles if they’re unable. Vehicles will be available to pick up and transport walkers who feel they cannot continue.

Every 2 miles or so, there will be rest stops where walkers can take a break and get something to eat and drink.

Participants are welcome, but not required, to carry rucksacks, or backpacks, during the walk. The rucksacks are meant to symbolize the weight of those veterans who have taken their own lives.

Proceeds from the event benefit Project Brotherhood Resolve. Founded in 2016, the organization’s mission is to address the problems of homelessness and suicide in the veteran community through intervention.

Project Brotherhood Resolve was established by Joseph Gemayel, a 37-year-old Hadley Township resident who was previously deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan as a member of the Illinois National Guard.

Hillard said Gemayel will not be attending this year’s Ruck for the Fallen because he was once again deployed to Iraq last year.

Supporting veterans is a cause near and dear to Hillard’s heart because both of her boys served in the military. Her son Nathaniel was in the Army and spent time in Afghanistan, while her other son, Brian, served in the Marine Corps.

Nathaniel developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of his deployment overseas, but Hillard said he had a supportive family to stand behind him and “people to talk to.”

“He’s been back for seven years now and he’s doing much better,” Hillard said. “He has his moments, but he’s doing good.”

She noted not all veterans are as fortunate as her son. She finds it “heartbreaking” to know there are veterans out there who feel isolated and need help, but have no one to turn to and nowhere to go.

“It’s sad that there’s not enough resources, that there’s not enough support,” Hillard said.

According to the National Suicide Data Report 2005-2015 released last year by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the average number of veterans who died by suicide each day during that 10-year period was 20.

The report noted that the suicide rate increased faster among veterans who had not recently used Veterans Health Administration health care than among those who had. It also noted that suicide rates increased for both veterans and non-veterans, emphasizing the fact that suicide is a national public health concern that affects people everywhere, according to the VA.

Hillard invites folks who happen upon the walkers on M-24 this Saturday to stop, ask questions and learn more about the issues of veteran suicide and homelessness.

“I hope that people see this and it makes a difference,” she said.