In this episode, Laurent sits down with Tristan Wimmer and Ben Pitassi of 22 Jumps. 22 Jumps is a public charity that combines BASE jumping and fundraising to support the development of durable solutions for traumatic brain injuries.
The project was initiated by Tristan Wimmer after his brother Kiernan's tragic death. Kiernan, who had suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained in Iraq for almost a decade, tragically took his own life in 2015. Tristan and his family watched as Kiernan's injury affected his mental and physical well-being, leading to emotional and violent behavior. Unfortunately, Kiernan's story is not unique, with an estimated 22 veterans taking their own lives each day, according to a 2012 report by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In response to this, Tristan and his team are working to raise awareness and funds for organizations researching and treating TBIs by completing 22 BASE jumps in one day, the same number of veterans who take their own lives each day. 22 Jumps serves as a tribute to honor those veterans and bring attention to the struggles they face.
Our second guest is a member of the board of directors for 22 Jumps and is currently serving with the Navy Parachute Team while on active duty. He has deployed 7 times to various parts of the world during his career. Ben is passionate about helping his fellow service members and founded The Uplift Union in 2019, a nonprofit centered around adaptive paragliding.
Note from Tristan: "22 Jumps would not be possible without the groundswell of love, support, and time that people give to make it a reality. There are too many to name, but Adam Ghannoum, COO of 22 Jumps, has been a shoulder since the beginning of this journey and has been invaluable to its success."
Their next event is scheduled for February 4, 2023 more info here: Feb 22 Jumps event
General info: https://22jumps.org/
Watch the video: https://vimeo.com/651574823
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