Sixteen people participated in the 22-mile Memorial Day March for Awareness to bring awareness to veteran suicide.

The hike required participants to carry a 22-pounds pack to signify the number of service members who take their lives every day.

Benjamin Joynt, the march organizer, said he believes the extreme distance would help bring attention and awareness to an issue that requires more than money to fix.

It’s an important issue for Joynt and many others who have lost friends to suicide over the years.

The group started their hike at 6 a.m. at White Hall Park in Richmond. 

Participants marched for almost 10 hours until they reach the end of their trail at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Winchester.

The oldest member to make the hike this year was 65-year-old William Reed, an Army Vietnam veteran.

As the group made its way up Main Street support came from “whoops,” car-horns and cheers of endearment heading into the last two miles.

Josh Back, an active member of the Kentucky National Guard, said he was marching for friends who were deployed and wanted veterans to know he and others were there for them.

“There is always another option,” Back said.

Made up of active duty members, retired veterans and civilians, all were united for the same cause.

Approaching the VFW, marchers were greeted with open arms, waving flags and a place to rest their feet among food, family and friends.