On May 11, noon to 5 p.m. at the Carmel Stadium, the 22nd International Festival and Walk-A-Thon will take place through efforts from the Do Something Club. The main goal of the event is to generate funds in order to support veterans who are struggling with mental illnesses and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This event will be a continuation of the previous Walk-A-Thon organized by the club in November, but will be on a larger scale with more of a community focus rather than being centered around CHS. James Ziegler, Do Something Club sponsor and social studies teacher, said there will be more methods to participate in the fundraising.
“We’ll be accepting donations as people come in for the Walk-A-Thon,” Ziegler said. “We’re also going to have nine fo

od trucks so those businesses are going to provide a portion of their proceeds to our fundraising efforts, and then we’ll also have booths set up within the stadium where we will be selling shirts and other items to help raise funds.”
In addition to new methods of fundraising, Ziegler said the Walk-A-Thon will include entertainment and services provided by the different branches of the military.
“Some of the various military branches are going to be coming to do performances, and we will also have some humvees and helicopters (at the event),” Ziegler said.
Despite the large impact made by the funds raised during the event, the most important aspect of the event will be raising awareness for the health of veterans in the community. Renuka Bajpai, student leader of the Veteran’s Walk-A-Thon and sophomore, said she agrees with this.
“It’s not just for donating a

nd for raising money like any other ordinary event; the whole purpose of this event is to raise awareness for PTSD since 22 veterans commit suicide every day,” Bajpai said.
Staff Sergeant Kimo Anderson, recruiting and retention NCO (non-commissioned officer) in the Carmel National Guard, said he also believes the bigger goal is to bring more awareness to the veterans in the community.

Anderson said, “It will be a good eye-opening experience for those who do not know about military veterans or those with PTSD, because PTSD can come in many different shapes and forms.”