Meet Magali Haas, MD, PhD, President and CEO of Cohen Veterans Bioscience (CVB), a leader in the development of cutting-edge testing and therapeutics for traumatic brain injuries

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among post-9/11 Veterans. Marine Veteran and Arizona State University alumni Tristan Wimmer is returning to the skies of his hometown to bring attention to this national crisis.

On Jan. 29, 2022, Wimmer will team up with four other Veterans to complete 22 BASE jumps off of Camelback Mountain 22 is symbolic of the 22 United States Active Duty and Veterans who succumb to suicide each day. The jumps will be held as part of the 3rd Annual 22 Jumps event at Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, AZ, beginning 6 a.m. (MST).

After exceeding his symbolic $22,000 fundraising goal last year, Wimmer and his team hope to raise another $22,000 for 2022. Donations can also be made online via the 22 Jumps website or on Facebook.

Wimmer’s brother took his own life in 2015 after sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Iraq while serving in the United States Marine Corps. The event, 22 Jumps, began in 2020 as a tribute to his brother, but quickly drew local and national media attention, as well as support from the brain injury, mental health, and Veterans’ communities, and countless families affected by Veteran suicide. Since then, Wimmer’s effort, 22Jumps.org has been awarded nonprofit status and has grown into a nationwide initiative with more than $100,000 raised across several events. All funds raised go to support Cohen Veteran Bioscience (CVB), a nonprofit biomedical research organization that is dedicated to fast-tracking precision diagnostics and tailored therapeutics for brain trauma, a major risk factor for suicide.

22 Jumps founder and veteran Tristan Wimmer stated, “TBIs disproportionately effect servicemen and women. I personally know dozens of Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and emotional management issues‚ many of whom have succumb to suicide. The effects of those deployments linger long after returning home. I’m honored to fundraise for CVB, an organization that recognizes the need to develop new treatment options for the millions of Veterans and civilians who suffer from TBIs and other mental health issues to finally combat the epidemic of Veterans suicide. To move forward, Veterans need more advocates like CVB, and we need more science that embraces the complexity of this Veteran-heavy disease.”