WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army senior baseball player Harold Earls plans to help lead a team of current, former and future U.S. Soldiers to the summit of Mount Everest in the spring of 2016. Earls has partnered with former Army hockey player CPT Matthew Hickey '09 in hopes of directing the first Army team to climb Everest, while also raising money and awareness for service members suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
"I have always wanted to climb Mount Everest," Earls said. "In the fall of 2014 I decided I was going to do everything I could to make that happen and we are very fortunate to be in the position we are in now. There have been tremendous mentors and a great support team here at West Point who has helped to move this dream of climbing Everest into a tangible goal."
Earls and Hickey have created a not-for-profit organization called U.S. Expeditions and Explorations to serve as the foundation for the quest. Their vision is "To inspire service-members - past, present and future - to challenge themselves or a small team with a lofty, focused endeavor in the field of exploration, philanthropy or science to promote healthy and inspirational lifestyles." Hickey will document the fundraising and preparation efforts of the USX Army Everest Expedition Team through a blog located at www.armyeverest.blogspot.com
Story courtesy of GoARMYsports
The expedition to the summit of Mount Everest, Nepal, which is the world's tallest mountain at 29,029 feet, will be the first USX endeavor. The goal is to raise awareness and funds for service-related mental illnesses in order to reduce suicide rates and improve quality of life for U.S. Veterans. Additionally, the team will conduct research and tests with its USX Expedition Soldiers and their equipment in the rugged environment.
"I had no idea how serious of an issue Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was in the military," Earls continued. "The numbers are staggering in terms of how many people are affected by PTSD and our goal is to help soldiers cope with this problem."
To learn more about the USX Army Everest Expedition or to make a donation to the cause, visit www.USX.Vet
Story courtesy of GoARMYsports