The Holiday Highlander 5

Schedule

Sat Dec 03 2022 at 08:00 am to 05:00 pm

Location

Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom | Hope Mills, NC

The Holiday Highlander is an athletic charity competition comprised of Highland Games and Strongman events.
About this Event

All competitors must wear a kilt and all proceeds go back to 501c3 Continuing the Mission.

Why do we choose to donate all proceeds to Continuing the Mission? In 2020, 580 service members across the military’s active, reserve and guard components died by suicide. In 2019, 6,261 Veterans died by suicide. In 2019 the Veteran suicide rate in North Carolina was higher than the national general population suicide rate, in addition to 76% of the 181 deaths in North Carolina were by firearm.

Suicide is a complex problem, and it requires coordinated solutions that reach beyond the traditional medical model of prevention. Through strength sports we can increase connectedness, belonging and improve health and well-being. This is what we are doing with the Holiday Highlander.

As individuals who work and live within a community saturated with Veterans and Active Duty Service Members (ADSM), we hold an urgent responsibility to empower and engage this community, OUR STRENGTH COMMUNITY for these Veterans and ADSM.

Empowering communities through Strength Sports and raising awareness about this tragedy has become our mission and our why. Our hope, that we are creating connectedness through this event that may increase protection from suicide risk for Veterans and ADSM. We personally might not be that connection, but through this event, charity and generous donations from you, we are creating connections for others. We are connecting ADSM, Veterans to Veterans, Veterans with companions and ADSM & Veterans with resources and outlets for support.

THAT is why we do what we do. Not all ADSM & Veterans are connected, so looking for innovative ways to give back and serve Veterans who do not — and may never — seek care, benefits, or services within its system is crucial.

We cannot do this alone. We know that suicide is preventable, and we all have a role to play in helping those who served for us.