Honor Courage Commitment, Inc. started the #22KILL movement in 2013 after learning about the staggering statistic that an average of 22 veterans is killed by suicide every day. They are committed to researching and understanding the genesis of this epidemic and educating the general public on the issue. #22KILL is a platform to raise awareness not just towards veteran suicide, but also to the issues that can lead them to suicide. These mental health outcomes can stem from Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, or the struggles and stresses of transitioning from military to civilian life.
One may say that the solution is veteran empowerment. One of the biggest challenges veterans face is finding a sense of purpose after service. #22KILL directly supports veteran empowerment programs that help veterans maximise their talents and understand their value outside of the military. #22KILL also continually provides support for other veteran organisations, treatment centers, community events and projects.
If you go anywhere on social media and type in #22KILL or #PushupChallenge, thousands of videos of people doing the challenge will flood your news feed. The challenge is very specific: do 22 push-ups and make a donation.
The United States, Chicago-based Disturbed are one of the alternative metal bands that wanted to take a position while supporting the #22KILL cause, represented by bass player John Moyer.
Disturbed, which throughout the years have been very outspoken about suicidal attempts in general, representing it either on their official videos or lyricism, came as no surprise when John Moyer announced that he would partake in the #22KILL initiative.
Indeed, there are plenty of things in which rockers can do to employ their free time, but Disturbed bass player John Moyer thought it would be best to get involved in the #22KILL challenge, therefore, supporting the cause. It is no secret that Disturbed have a vast fan base in the military and that they have built quite a solid relationship with them, those who serve the United States. With John Moyer’s take, he puts a spotlight on veterans’ suicide awareness, and motivates music fans to follow his example.
It seems that John Moyer has been doing the #22KILL challenge since early May 2016, by glancing at his social media status, and along the way he has been joined by drummer Mike Wengren, crew members and even Saint Asonia bassist Corey Lowery followed in doing the push-ups one day. Nevertheless, during a recent stop at the Rock Am Ring Festival, the bass player got all of his bandmates to support the cause, as they dropped to the ground and counted out 22 push-ups together.
John Moyer was born on November 30th, 1973, and he is an all American musician, best known as the current bassist and backup vocalist for the alternative metal band Disturbed. Taking over in 2004 after Steve Kmak was fired, John Moyer has played the bass guitar with the band since their third studio album, ‘Ten Thousand Fists.’ John Moyer was also the bassist for the American supergroup Adrenaline Mob, joining in February 2012, and remained with the band until August 2014. He currently plays in Art of Anarchy, and in 2015 he became a full-time member of the band Operation: Mindcrime.
Have you joined the #22KILL challenge? What do you think of this initiative?
