September 14, 2024 Grosse Ile Yacht Club 8:00am - TBD Registration Opens May 4th info@stepupswim.org
Individuals and teams take to Lake Erie for a 10k swim to the Detroit River Lighthouse benefiting The Step Up Foundation
2023 Recap
We are truly overwhelmed by the incredible support for our inaugural Find Your Way Home Swim. This LIVE BIG event quickly transformed into something beyond our wildest dreams. A dear veteran, whose courage knows no bounds, took on a challenge that captured hearts and inspired many. We witnessed this challenge grow, evolve, and become a powerful force of unity. What started with one turned into 33 dedicated swimmers. This community stepped up, not just for our mission, but for one another. We also express our gratitude to Gorno Ford for their support in ensuring the success of this event. In these moments, we are reminded TOGETHER, WE CAN DO HARD THINGS. You are never alone on this journey, and this community stands as a testament to that. FYWH ’23 was one for the books. Join us for the momentum of year 2!
THE COURSE
#LIVEBIG
October 29, 2018, Navy SEAL Chad Wilkinson took his life. While approaching his 21st year active duty and experiencing multiple combat deployments, his body and his mind had taken too much. Following his death, his family donated his brain to science and would later learn he suffered from interface astroglial scarring. This scarring is similar to the more readily heard chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) or punch drunk. However, interface astroglial scarring is specific to our veterans in that it doesn’t necessarily occur with physical contact or trauma but rather blast waves they are exposed to in both training and combat. An aspiring mountaineer and following his death the world took to Chad’s workout, 1,000 box step ups with a 45lb pack to train for such climbing expeditions which is now known as CHAD1000X. This workout has grown to be a testament of the struggles our military face with PTSD, TBI’s and blast wave injury. As Chad often said, “Uncomfortable can’t last forever”. This annual Veterans Day workout now serves as a trademarked platform for fellow Americans to honor our veterans and their invisible wounds. We stand beside them in support, we honor their struggle and will fight for their comfort as they have for us. Thus, Step Up Foundation was born.
