Join the 2025 One Mile Challenge
In this post: Learn more about the challenge, how to join, and how to help spread the word!
We invite (and encourage!) you to join our upcoming annual One Mile Challenge: a movement to support the mental health and well-being of our military, veterans, and first responders, and their families.
OMC participants commit to walking, running, or rolling just one mile a day, every day of September.
The challenge is simple, flexible, and powerful for you — and every mile helps raise awareness & funds for our free programs for guardians and their families.
Scroll to learn more, or click a link to jump directly to where you want to go:
As an individual
Join an existing team
Create a new team
Download the calendar to print & track
Invite others to join you by donating or joining your team
Download social media graphics
Team Captain template
Team vs Personal Links
Personalize your fundraising page & custom URL
We’re honored to have you participating and raising funds & awareness to reduce veteran & first responder suicide. Thank you for taking on the challenge! #omc2025 @guardianrevival
30 DAYS. 30 MILES. 1 MISSION.
Why We Walk
Our guardians face staggering rates of stress, trauma, and mental health challenges, but many never seek help due to stigma or lack of access.
A recent statewide survey by SUNY New Paltz found that 16% of first responders have experienced suicidal thoughts — 4x higher than the general NYS population.
53% of first responders report symptoms of depression, 38% report PTSD symptoms — but 80% cite stigma as a reason they avoid seeking care.
In a report of veterans in New York who recently separated from military service, 25% screened positive for PTSD, and nearly 10% reported suicidal ideation in the past year.
The findings of SUNY’s survey are already driving action: The New York State Assembly is reviewing Bill A7285, known as the First Responder Peer Support Program Act. The proposed legislation would fund and formalize statewide peer-to-peer mental health support for first responders — a model Guardian Revival already implements through our Peer Services division.
That's why we exist: so our guardians & their families are never alone.
Guardian Revival offers non-clinical, stigma-free programs like outdoor adventures, companion dogs, music, wellness activities, family events, and peer support — all at no cost to them. And to fulfill our mission, we need to reach more guardians & families and have the resources to support them.
Enter: the One Mile Challenge. OMC happens during September (Suicide Awareness Month), giving us the chance to help spread the word about our mission, why it matters, and how we can all make a difference.
2025 is our 4th annual OMC, and we're aiming to make it bigger than ever before, so that we can offer even more to guardians & families. We want you to be part of #OMC2025
By joining OMC, you’re not just logging miles, you’re helping break barriers, build community, and provide life-changing support & opportunities. Are you in?
How to Join the Challenge
Fired up & ready to go? Step 1: Register for the One Mile Challenge.
When you click Register on the OMC page, it will pop open a window with 3 ways you can join:
As an individual (on your own, not part of any team)
Join an existing team
This option will open a list of all the current teams — created by families, friend groups, offices, departments, gyms, organizations, and more.
We also have some program teams organized by our Guardian Revival staff, if you’d like to join us!
Create a new team
Come up with a name and start a new team of your own
Recruit your family, friends, coworkers, and community to join you!
Still not sure how it works? Watch our how-to video on how to join the challenge & create a new team:
You can also scroll down the page to the leaderboard area and find existing teams to join — and you can even search by Team Name or Team Captain Name.
(As the challenge progresses, this area will also show the top individual fundraisers and the teams that have raised the most money for the challenge — all in support of our programs for guardians & families!)
Choose Your Challenge Kit
This year, we have some exciting new gear added to the participant challenge kit, including a collapsible water bottle & new 2025 t-shirt design, plus a new 1/4 zip GR sweatshirt (our first ever!) in the Elite Kit option.
Once you have selected how you want to register, you choose one of three options. Proceeds go toward supporting our programs at Guardian Revival. Gear up & make a difference!
1. Participant (No Kit — all donation!) $50
All of your participant fees are tax-deductible and go towards supporting Guardian Revival programs for military, veterans, first responders, and their families. Thank you!
2. Participant with Essential Kit $50
The Essential Participant Challenge Kit* includes:
GR wings sticker
OMC Collapsible Water Bottle 16.9 Oz — New to the kit this year!
OMC Navy T-Shirt (unisex fit: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL) — New design for 2025!
Bonus: LMNT Sample pack (while supplies last)
3. Participant with Elite Kit $95
The Elite Participant Challenge Kit* includes all of the Essential Kit items:
GR wings sticker
OMC Collapsible Water Bottle 16.9 Oz — NEW to the kit this year!
OMC Navy T-Shirt (unisex fit: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL) — New design for 2025!
Bonus: LMNT Sample pack (while supplies last)
PLUS
1/4 Zip GR Navy Sweatshirt (unisex fit: S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL) — New for 2025!
After you select your kit option, complete your registration & checkout process. You'll get an email with your receipt and a link to your new fundraising page.
*Kits are shipped to US addresses only.
Download this calendar to track your miles!
Print a copy for yourself — this fits on regular 8.5 x 11” paper.
Spread the Word
Joining the challenge helps our mission — but spreading the word can really grow your impact!
Our goal with OMC is raising awareness & funds to support our military, veterans, first responders, and their families through our free programs here at Guardian Revival. The more people who participate and the more donations we receive, the more guardians we can help!
Share your page on social media and via email & text to encourage more people to participate in the challenge and/or donate to your page!
We’ve even made a few graphics you can use to share as a Story or Post on Instagram — download them here. Share the posts to your profile and tell people your story in the caption: why you’re taking on the One Mile Challenge and encourage them to join your team! Tag us: #omc2025 @guardianrevival
Keep scrolling for some more tips about which link to share and how to post a link in an Instagram story :)
Video & Social Prompts
We’ve written some prompts to help spark inspiration for you to spread the word about the One Mile Challenge (OMC). Get creative and have fun! We appreciate your efforts and please let us know if you need any support.
How to film: Use your phone, shoot vertical (like an Instagram Story or Reel), and keep it natural. Short clips (15–60 sec) work best.
Fast Facts Reminders
What is the One Mile Challenge? Walk, run, or roll one mile each day of September.
OMC is a virtual event, and you will self-monitor your progress.
Make your mile happen wherever you are or want to go — city streets, country roads, trails, tracks, treadmills, or in laps around your home — at sunrise, sunset, lunch breaks, or whenever works for you.
Invite members of your household, coworkers, friends, and workout buddies to participate so you can take on the challenge together.
Why do we walk? Every participant & every mile helps raise awareness & funds for our free programs to improve the lives of guardians and their families.
(Want more information & data? Learn about Suicide Prevention Month and recent research about guardian mental health)
Prompts & Content Ideas
Challenge a friend
What’s your why? Tell us why you walk and why you are taking on the One Mile Challenge then challenge three of your friends or followers to join you on this challenge! Ideally this will start a chain reaction and those challenged will film their reasons for walking and challenge three additional friends or followersCome walk/run my daily mile with me
Take us on your mile with you! Show us your workout prep (picking outfit, lacing up shoes, hydrating, driving to location, stretching, etc) and tell us why you chose to take on OMC. Why is it important to you?Answer the call
Is there a military member, veteran, or first responder who has made an impact on your life? Maybe they responded when you called 911. Or maybe they are a family member or friend that has been there for you in a time of need that you have been able to lean on. Tell us why it's your turn to answer the call and support the mental health of those who are there for us in our time of need.Check in on a friend
Reach out to a friend who has been on your mind! Everyone appreciates a check-in and knowing that someone’s been thinking about them, and a conversation can make a difference.
✅ Pro tip: End every clip with your personal/team fundraising link
Tag us when you post on social: #omc2025 @guardianrevival
Recruit Your Team
If you’re a team captain, think about who you want to join you & why they should take on this impactful challenge, and then ask them to join!
Here are a few reasons why someone should join your One Mile Challenge team:
It’s for a great cause. Every step we take supports the mental health of military, veterans, first responders, and their families — our guardians. All proceeds go to Guardian Revival’s free programs like outdoor adventures, peer support, companion dogs, music, and wellness events.
It’s simple and meaningful. One mile a day. That’s it. Walk, run, roll — on your own time, anywhere. You don’t have to be an athlete to make a real difference.
We’re stronger together. Joining a team builds connection and motivation. Whether you’re in uniform, retired, or a proud supporter — being on a team brings community, encouragement, and shared purpose.
It’s a way to show up. We walk to honor those who serve and to raise awareness about the invisible challenges guardians face — especially during Suicide Awareness Month in September.
It comes with great gear. Choose from options like a OMC t-shirt, water bottle, and 1/4 zip sweatshirt.
Guardian Revival is a community where friends, families, colleagues, and acquaintances come together to support the guardian community. Don’t forget to record & share your own Why You Walk video when asking people to join! #omc2025
Finding & Sharing Your Links
Sharing Team vs Personal Team Page Links
We strongly encourage you to share your unique pages (vs just sharing our main OMC page, though that’s fine too!)
Share your team page so that people can join your team (or donate to your team as a whole)
Then, once you’re in fundraising mode, share your personal / individual fundraising page, to ask for people to donate to your page (which will count towards your team’s total but credit you personally as the fundraiser)
You can find your personal and team pages under “Go To” and your personal links via Manage > Details
How to Add a Link to an Instagram Story
Watch the following instructional video for steps to add a link to your instagram story:
How to create a personalized link to share
Sign in (via button at top of the page)
Click on “Go to” and select your Team or personal Fundraising Page
(By default, personal fundraising pages have a red location icon as a profile picture, and Team pages have the 1M logo.)Once on the page, click on “Manage”
Now you’re in the management (backend editing) area of your page! You can follow the actions suggested on the cards, like adding / updating your photo.
Click on the “Details” tab
Scroll down to the “vanity URL” and type in your team name or whatever you’d like to use in the box, and then you can copy the link to share!
For example:
Another Summit’s Team: https://give.guardianrevival.org/as-omc-2025
Boots & Paws’ Team: https://give.guardianrevival.org/teambootsnpaws
Encore’s Team: https://give.guardianrevival.org/encore-omc2025
Homefront’s Team: https://give.guardianrevival.org/homefront-omc2025
Peer Services’ Team: https://give.guardianrevival.org/psd-omc2025
In the Details tab, you can also
Upload a different profile picture (or logo)
Change your page headline and fundraising goal
Revise your default thank you message for donors
Adjust notification preferences
On the Story tab, you can edit your page story and post Updates for your donors
Now go forth and spread the word, sharing your new page link (vanity URL) so people can donate or join your team. Thank you!
Who We Are
Guardian Revival is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that improves the mental health & well-being of military, veterans, and first responders — our guardians — and their families, at no cost to them.
Another Summit | Outdoor adventures — walking, hiking, backpacking, paddling, and fly fishing
Boots & Paws | Providing dogs for the therapeutic benefits of animal companionship
Encore | Opportunities to learn, write, play, record, and share music
Homefront | Events, support & resources for guardian families
Peer Services | Individual & group peer support for guardians by guardians
RISE | Strength & resilience through fitness & wellness
