Members of Troy University's Alpha Tau Omega fraternity raised $200,000 for wounded warriors in a march to Panama City Beach.
The 128.3-mile trip took six days for the 44 fraternity brothers. When the group finally made it to PCB, they jumped in the water to celebrate.
The group used their Spring Break to raise money for Jeep Sullivan's Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures, an organization that offers free hunting and fishing trips for wounded warriors.
"Every single person talks about that, of wanting to be a part of something bigger than themselves," said Walk Hard 2026 Director Griffin Brock, a junior business major. "This is the perfect opportunity—giving up your Spring Break to walk 128.3 miles. We love doing this, and it goes to a great cause."
The brothers heard stories from veterans each night during the march.
"Hearing the guys Jeep brings in each night tell us their story and how something as small as walking down the road has benefited them so much has made me want to do it more and more, and continue to be involved after I graduate," said senior geomatics major Landon Evans.
"What they're doing allows my brothers and I to do things that help get us out of some dark places," said U.S. Army SGM Brandon Seller (Ret.). "It's what they do that raises the support for what Jeep does that comes back to us. The knees don't move like they used to, and I've been blown up more than I like to think about, but that wear and tear is easy to talk about because they're all feeling it right now. Not a single person sitting here has quit, and that says so much about every one of those guys that no one else may ever know."
Sophomore accounting major Jadon Demange said the challenges were worth the rewards.
"I caught up to three of my brothers during the storm on day four, and we were just running," Demange said. "I thought we were running to get in a truck, but they were running just to run and screaming Army cadences. It made me feel so good that I forgot about the storm and was just grateful to spend time with my brothers.
"This is a philanthropy, but it's also a brotherhood event," he continued. "We're together every single day, six days in a row, staying in the same small places and having conversations and getting to know each other better."
The goal for this year was $150,000. Participants said they are overjoyed to have surpassed their goal and to have raised $140,000 in 2025.
Evans encouraged future fraternity brothers to participate in Walk Hard.
"This is something I'll cherish for the rest of my life," he said. "If you walk your freshman year and you're miserable, join the support team and find other ways to stay involved. Show up when we walk in, just always find ways to be a part of it because it is life-changing."
Walk Hard has raised over $1,040,000 for veterans.
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