Fairfax-based, Navy veteran Jake Welch recently completed his second cycling challenge to help bring attention to veteran suicide and raise funds for Hope For The Warriors, a Springfield-based national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a sense of self, family and hope for post-9/11 veterans, active-duty service members and military families.

Starting at HOPE’s Springfield office, the 36-year-old Welch rode 435 miles in four days to Jacksonville, North Carolina, and The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Hope For The Warriors. In 2021 Welch rode over 8,000 miles in a year-long challenge raising awareness for veteran suicides and funds for HOPE. He has raised $6,000 for HOPE in the two challenges.