PHOTOS COURTESY OF MENTAL MULES
Front row, left to right: Brandon Kassinger, Ryan Carey, Chris Hamm, Brent Perry, Hal Landers, Scott Speer, Andy Lewis, Wes Hendrickson and Walker Hoye. Back row, left to right: Cory Ross, Greg Martin, Ryan Slaughter and Jeremy McCoy.
By Hal Landers For the past six years, a group of 12 men called the Mental Mules have tested their endurance in hopes of completing a 24-hour walk all for charity, but it didn't start that way. It was simply a challenge that started in 2016 as more of a personal goal amongst each of the 12 men to see if they could mentally and physically challenge themselves to complete this trek. The idea was to mentally push each other to stay awake, with minimal breaks, walking for 24 hours.
Jeremy McCoy and Andy Lewis present Cindy Sim, Director of the Center of Hope, with a donation from Mental Mules in 2021.
Mental Mules met several times leading up to the inaugural walk, but it wasn't until later they decided to raise money for local charities in the community. In 2016, the goal was $5,000, which they chose to donate to the nonprofit Best Buddies of Columbia Central High School. The Mules ended up raising $7,500 and since then, have increased and exceeded their financial goal each year, adding more charities to contribute to. Last year the goal was $25,000, and the group exceeded expectations again raising $27,000 in 2021.
42
|
MAURY COUNTY LIVING
|
M AY – J U N E 2 0 2 2
