BREWSTER – Students in the Brewster School District are participating in the Step Up Challenge this week to shed light on mental health and its impact on those who seem the strongest—members of the military.
Under the supervision of BHS physical education instructor Nicole Sweeney, the teens walk the bleachers on Bear Field to remember Chad Wilkinson, a longtime Navy Seal who took his own life after suffering a traumatic brain injury due to shock waves in combat overseas.
The Step Up Challenge is a 1,000 repetition, weighted step-up workout. Over the course of two days, students in each physical education and health class have the option to climb bleachers with or without backpacks. They also learn about trauma, suicide and the need for mental health awareness.
Students across the district are also participating with boys and girls attending the JFK Elementary School, CV Starr Intermediate School and Henry Wells Middle School joining in modified for age level–to honor veterans, both past and present.
The BHS athletic field’s bleachers contain 22 steps, the number of veterans who take their lives daily.
“Each step is meaningful,” said Sweeney. “They served so we can be free. We are doing this so people become aware and can offer help when observing someone in need of mental health assistance. By understanding the mental health challenges faced by veterans and the factors that contribute to these issues, we can better support those who have served in the military and help them lead fulfilling lives following their service.”