Walk Hard 2025 Raised $140,000
- Neela Cole
- Mar 27
- 3 min read
An additional donation was made after this photo was taken, raising the total amount to $140,000.
The brothers of ATO landed in Panama City, Florida on March 20 and raised $140,000 dollars total for Jeep Sullivan’s Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures.
ATO continued its annual Spring Break philanthropy hike called Walk Hard from the university’s main quad to Panama City Beach, Florida. This provides a way for the fraternity to show their appreciation for veterans while also raising money for wounded veterans.
“The veterans have done so much for us,” said ATO’s President Ben Hollensworth, a junior exercise physiology major from Mobile, Alabama. “The reason we do this is because they protected our family, me and even my future family.
“This is just a great way to give back, and we do it because we can. Walk Hard is a small giveback that we are blessed to have the opportunity to do. The guys are ready, stretched and have their water filled, so we are all excited and ready to go.”
Jeep Sullivan’s Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures, which is a program for veterans that were at their lowest point after returning from service, is the area mission that ATO raises funds for. This action started back in 2009.
“The one thing that we all look forward to, other than raising money for the veterans, is just getting closer,” Hollensworth said. “128 miles is a long time where it’s just you and the other guys on the road.
“You get some really deep conversations and just get to know each other on a deeper level, and guys who you don’t normally talk to, you might be walking with, so that will just grow that strength within the brotherhood.”
It was estimated the members would walk 28 miles on day one, which would take about 10 hours. Throughout the entirety of the walk, the group made stops at churches to sleep and eat.
“I am kind of nervous,” said Logan Cairnes, a senior general business major from Birmingham, Alabama, who is a member of ATO. “This is my fourth year, and even then, the nerves still get to you, and you don’t ever get used to it.
“It feels great doing it with my brothers. There’s a decent amount of them that are new, so I do not know them the best, and this is a good opportunity to get to know them.”
It took a total of six days to make the full trip to Panama City Beach, Florida. The members of the fraternity want to thank Troy, the students, as well as the sponsors, for the support and donations.
“We've been able to do a lot with that money over the years from donating to the organization and being able to see what he does with all of those people,” said William Bruitt, a senior risk management insurance major from Auburn, Alabama, who is a member of ATO. “It's important to continue this just because they've given so much for us.
“We've heard a lot over the years about the negative treatment veterans were given when they came back from Vietnam, so being able to give them the opposite of that with this is really what's important.”
After Walk Hard ended, the participants took time to reflect on the impact they had made.
“I would just say that Walk Hard is something truly special,” Cairnes said. “We walked for six days and within those six days there are many ups and downs.
“We went through every emotion from anger to happiness, even as a fourth-year walker.
However, at the end of the day we just have to take it one step at a time kind of like life and eventually we will get to where we are going.”
In an Instagram post made by Cairnes, he said he enjoyed every moment.
“Well here we are, four years and 513.2 miles later,” Cairnes said. “I have enjoyed every minute of it and would not change anything.
“It has been an honor to walk alongside over 140 men of the Kappa Beta chapter, and I know Walk Hard will continue to grow and do great things for @jeepsullivansoutdooradventures and all the wounded veterans he supports. Thank you everyone for the support over the years, and I wish the best of luck to all future walkers.”
To see ATO’s full Walk Hard journey, visit their Instagram @atotroy.
The brothers of ATO rallied on the quad before the start of Walk Hard.
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