Sawyer Foster is a 22-year-old native Iowan and Army National Guard Recruiter in Washington. On Saturday, February 18, Foster completed his third fundraising effort to support the mental health and well-being of American veterans.

Foster raised over $4,000 for Mission 22 through a nearly 40-mile ruck march. Able to complete this feat in just under 12 hours, Foster explained to KCII his mentality during the march, as well as his motivation to finish. “I just try to think about the cause and why I’m doing it, and not get too caught up in the pain and everything that I’m going through, because that doesn’t matter. What matters is the money going towards a good cause. I actually have family members that have been affected by this, so I just had them in my thoughts and that’s kind of what pushed me through it.” 

Foster could be seen walking alongside Highway 218 Saturday, proudly waving the American flag as he reached his goal.

Mission 22 is a non-profit organization founded by veterans in 2012. It centers around providing support and resources for servicemen and women when they return home. In 2020, the organization invested over $1.5 million in mental health and wellness programs for veterans, their families, and communities.

To help support Mission 22, or for more information about the organization, visit mission22.com.