Fayetteville will once again rally around a cause that is both sobering and unifying when the 10th Annual Man 22 Suicide Awareness Run steps off on Saturday, Sept. 13, at Festival Park.
The event, founded by Army veteran Rick “Rngr” Murillo, honors the memory of service members lost to suicide while raising awareness about a crisis that affects an estimated 22 veterans every day. What began a decade ago as a small grassroots tribute has grown into a large community gathering that blends remembrance with action.
Murillo launched the event in 2016 after losing his close friend and fellow paratrooper Barry Barker, who served in the 82nd Airborne Division. In interviews over the years, Murillo has said he struggled with the weight of his own experiences after the Army and decided to turn pain into purpose. The “22” in the event’s name represents the average number of veteran suicides reported daily in the United States…