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Veteran on 24-hour climber challenge to raise awareness for military-related mental & sexual trauma

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — With every step and every breath, United States Navy veteran, author and life-recovery coach Michelle Poitier pushes closer to her goal. She plans to spend 24 hours on a MaxiClimber at Bold City Health off Blanding Boulevard.

Her goal is to raise awareness for veterans living with mental health challenges or military sexual trauma — two battles Poitier says she’s faced herself. It’s why she has devoted her life to helping others find healing and care through her nonprofit Healing Women, Healing Nations of Northeast Florida Inc.

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Poitier said, “I put my body through this because it’s a sacrifice to help other veterans that are suffering to raise the awareness for the veterans that are falling through the cracks.”

You can watch Michelle’s live effort here on her Facebook page.

Peggy Motil is the office manager at Bold City Health. Motil said, “We love what she’s doing, what she’s about. The Lord’s behind this, and we’re behind her.”

According to a 2021 report from the Government Accountability Office, “the number of veterans receiving mental health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs increased 90% from fiscal year 2006 to 2019 — more than three times the rate of increase for all VA healthcare services.”

Poitier says from her own experience, the process of getting help through the VA can sometimes prove to be a challenge. Poitier says community-based organizations that serve veterans are key in bridging the gap. Poitier is live-streaming her 24-hour effort on Facebook to raise money for one of them, Hope 4 Veterans in St. Augustine.

Poitier’s team says these are the three ways you can donate:

Army veteran, Hope 4 Veterans founder and MST survivor Lynn Geiser says at least 75% of the female veterans she serves have encountered military sexual trauma. The nonprofit provides a number of resources for women veterans and their children.

Geiser said, “They don’t come out until they need help, and when they start to need help is when ... they need the sister support. So that’s really the focus piece, is that sister support: being there for them regardless if it’s financial or whatever.”

Poitier has spent weeks training her body and mind for this grueling quest. It’s familiar territory, as Poitier climbed a mountain in Peru with Soldiers to Summits as a part of her own healing journey 10 years ago.

Poitier said, “What I found on the top of that mountain was, I discovered my purpose to help other veterans come out of the abyss because I was in the abyss. And because I was able to climb my way out, it’s my purpose and my passion and it’s my focus to help other veterans climb their way out.”

Poitier wants to serve as a reminder that no matter what you are facing, keep going; finding strength, healing and hope often happens one step at a time. You can follow Michelle’s push toward her 24-hour goal on her Facebook page.

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