Laughter is the best medicine. That’s something that these veterans know to be true. Nearly 300 came together Saturday at Carolina Beach with a goal of making each other laugh. Why? To prevent veteran suicide.


What You Need To Know

  • Nearly 300 veterans gathered in Carolina Beach for the Silkies Hike, a hike that uses laughter to prevent veteran suicide

  • It’s a 22 km hike carrying 22 pounds, alluding to 22 veterans dying each day by suicide

  • There are over 70 Silkies Hikes across the country

  • The hikes have also been expanded to Canada, England, Puerto Rico and Guam

“So yeah, that’s what it’s all about is just bringing veterans together,” said Irreverent Warrior’s Kyle Page. “We have a messed-up sense of humor and that’s how we deal with our lives and our issues, and so what better way to do that than a bunch of half-naked veterans walking around in short shorts?”

It’s called a Silkies Hike. Together, they walk seven miles, or 22 kilometers, while carrying 22 pounds in their packs. Why 22? Irreverent Warriors says that’s how many veterans die each day by suicide. It’s a statistic that Page is all too familiar with.

Silkies Hike participants spread love and support.

“I deployed to Afghan in 2012 and coming back, we lost two guys when we were over there. We’ve lost one a year on average to suicide since we’ve been back,” Page said. “Last year was really hard for me, it was actually my first year in the organization. I lost eight guys in a four-month span, and this organization has helped pull me out of all that.”

That’s where laughter comes in. It may not be able to fix everything, but it can help.

“Humor makes you smile, it releases endorphins or whatever the chemicals are, and it makes you happy,” Page said. “So you could be having the worst day possible and someone could make a joke and if it’s funny enough, you’ll laugh.”

And these comrades will continue to make each other laugh. One of the perks of the hike is coming together, meeting new people, making new friends and finding a support system.

“It’s a good time,” Page said, “and the connections you make here are life-changing.”

Silkies Hike participants gather at Carolina Beach.

There are over 70 Silkies Hikes across the country. Two other Silkies Hikes took place Saturday, one in Texas and one in Colorado.  They’ve expanded the hikes to Canada, England, Puerto Rico and Guam this year as well.

If you would like more information on Irreverent Warriors, you can click here.

If you are a veteran in a crisis or are concerned about a veteran in a crisis, you can visit the Veterans Crisis Line for free and confidential support from qualified responders from the Department of Veterans Affairs.