(CBS DETROIT) – Michigan veterans die from suicide at much higher rates than the rest of the population, according to recent Veteran Affairs data.

The Step Up Foundation is working to prevent these deaths by funding research into veteran brain health. The 2024 “Find Your Way Home” swim in Grosse Ile will benefit the foundation.

This year marks the second year of the event. The 10k swim is Saturday, Sept. 14 from the Grosse Ile Yacht Club to the Detroit River Lighthouse.

“Swimming for me is a time just to kind of reflect back on military life. Friends I’ve lost. … Have conversations with guys I don’t get a chance to anymore. And just kind of make peace with things,” said PJ Ramsey, a Navy SEAL veteran and event director of the Step Up Foundation.

The money raised will go towards causes that support veteran brain health.

“Plenty of veterans, plenty of teammates I have, have struggled with transitioning. I myself included with PTS, suicidal ideations, suicidal attempts. Honestly, with all the training I’ve been through in the military, the hardest thing I had to do was ask for help,” said Ramsey.

The Step Up Foundation was founded by Sara Wilkinson, who started it in honor of her husband, Chad Wilkinson, a Navy SEAL for 21 years who died by suicide.

“We found ways to donate his brain and do research. We learned he suffered not just from multiple TBIs but what’s called interface astroglial scarring. Which is blast wave injuries to the brain through combat and through training,” said Wilkinson.

Wilkinson said she started the foundation to help battle those invisible wounds veterans face.

“The truth is, it’s an epidemic. We’ve had thousands and thousands of service members take their life. And so, it doesn’t matter — branch, rank, gender, time in service. They have given to us, and we need to stand up for them,” she said.

More than 30 swimmers will participate in the swim. The event will host an after-party at the Grosse Ile Yacht Club. The event will feature food, drinks and live music. You can buy tickets for the after-party. 

“Coming up to Grosse Isle last year for the first time, I just can’t even say what this community, how special they are,” said Wilkinson. “Grosse Isle has touched me in a way that will last a lifetime.”

The Detroit Lions announced their captains for the 2024 season, and quarterback Jared Goff and linebacker Alex Anzalone will wear the ‘C’ on their chest for the fourth straight season.

On Monday, six captains were announced — Goff, Anzalone, right tackle Penei Sewell, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and linebacker/special teams ace Jalen Reeves-Maybin.

The Lions did not say how captains were selected in the announcement, but in years past, it has been determined by a player vote.

SUNDAY LOOKAHEAD: Detroit Lions rolling with 52 players on roster for now for ‘flexibility’

Hutchinson, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft, is the only first-time captain in the group, with the other five being a captain for at least the second straight year. Hutchinson replaces Charles Harris as one of the two defensive captains alongside Anzalone. St. Brown and Sewell are both captains for the second year entering their fourth NFL season in Detroit and join Goff as offensive captains. Reeves-Maybin was a team captain in 2021 and was voted captain again when he re-joined the team in 2023.

Goff and Anzalone have been captains for the entirety of the Lions tenure since joining the team as two of the first acquisitions by general manager Brad Holmes in the 2021 offseason. The Lions flipped quarterback Matthew Stafford — their opponent on Sunday — for Goff and a bundle of picks that became contributors on the current team, while Anzalone signed as a free agent. Earlier on Monday, Campbell stressed Goff’s importance to the team.

“I think (Goff) just wants more, and he continues to challenge himself and the more he does that, the more we load him up,” Campbell said. “The more we ask him to do, the more we put on his plate because he can handle it and he wants it. So, where he’s able to go, our offense is able to go. So, we ask him to do a lot, and we’re going to ask him to do a little bit more than he did last year because he can handle it. He’s proven that.”

Goff, St. Brown and Sewell all signed long-term extensions this offseasson to stick in Detroit for the foreseeable future. St. Brown and Sewell are coming off first-team All-Pro seasons, becoming the first Holmes draft picks to be extended by the team. Reeves-Maybin is coming off a second-team All-Pro nod for his special teams prowess, and Goff and Hutchinson are coming off a Pro Bowl appearance.

The Detroit Lions are officially in game week.

At long last, the countdown to game day has reached less than a week in Detroit. The offseason is over, and the most anticipated Detroit Lions season in recent memory will commence on Sunday when they take on the Los Angeles Rams.

As training camp is concluded, the Lions have whittled down their roster to the final 52 players. There is still an open spot on the roster as they enter game week, one that could be filled quickly.

Here is the first in a series evaluating the Lions’ roster, ranking the players based on impact they will have on the team’s success in 2024. Up first, players ranked 52 through 40.

52.) OT Giovanni Manu

Manu has exciting potential, but his adjustment curve is steep. As a result, he may spend most of the year as an inactive on game days and be little used in action. His practice reps will be vital to his development, and he could get a chance to serve in a depth role later in the year as he continues to grow.

51.) LS Hogan Hatten

Hatten beat out Scott Daly for the long snapper role in training camp and has clear athleticism. He will have a huge part in the efficiency of the field goal and punt teams and has intriguing ability as an overall athlete.

50.) QB Hendon Hooker

Hooker’s value to the team would skyrocket in the event of an injury, so continued development is important. He did enough in the preseason to unseat Nate Sudfeld as the backup, but has flaws within his game that can be corrected with improvement on the practice field.

49.) S Loren Strickland

An undrafted rookie out of Ball State, Strickland showed plenty of physicality throughout the preseason. He’s at the bottom of the defensive depth chart, but should see plenty of time on special teams.

48.) OL Michael Niese

The Lions elected to hold onto 10 offensive linemen at final cuts. With the returning depth, Niese must compete with Kayode Awosika to be utilized in a backup role at the guard position. He took some first team reps in training camp, though, and could wind up being a valuable depth piece down the road.

47.) LB Trevor Nowaske

The Lions brought Nowaske back on waivers after losing him last season to the Arizona Cardinals. He has special teams value along with some traits against the run and in coverage that could be useful.

46.) WR Isaiah Williams

Williams clearly showed his playmaking ability throughout the preseason, both as a receiver and a returner. Detroit has Kalif Raymond as the incumbent in the return game, so it’s uncertain how much action Williams will get in that area.

With Detroit also likely to elevate one of their plethora of wide receivers from the practice squad on game days as well, targets could be limited for the undrafted free agent. That said, it would be no surprise for the Lions to have some plays dialed up to get the Illinois product involved.

45.) S Brandon Joseph

A 2023 UDFA who spent all of last year on the practice squad, Joseph had a strong training camp and earned a job. He had an interception in the preseason opener and forced a fumble in the second game against the Chiefs.

For Joseph, there could be rotational opportunities for him to get snaps on defense. However, with Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu and Brian Branch all in the mix at the position, he may be limited to special teams barring injuries elsewhere at the position.

44.) CB Khalil Dorsey

Dorsey started a pair of games for Detroit late in the year last year, but his biggest value comes on special teams. He’ll be a big part of the Lions’ kickoff and punt units, with the potential to line up as a gunner on the punt team.

43.) TE Parker Hesse

Hesse’s blocking ability earned him a spot. He’ll likely hold the fullback responsibilities as the third tight end. With only 14 career receptions, he may not be aksed to contribute much as a receiver. However, his blocking will be important for Detroit’s run-first attack.

42.) RB Sione Vaki

Like Williams, Vaki showed he’s capable of being a playmaker with the ball in his hands. However, he also faces an uphill climb for reps with Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery and Craig Reynolds ahead of him on the depth chart.

The Utah product is still learning the position after being a predominately defensive player in college. However, he clearly has instincts that could make him an asset in certain situations.

41.) LB Ben Niemann

Niemann is a journeyman who has plenty of special teams experience. He’ll be valuable depth on defense and likely will also be a core special teamer who can contribute a variety of ways in that area.

40.) DT Mekhi Wingo

Early in the year, Wingo’s role may depend on whether or not nose tackle DJ Reader is available. He has versatility to slide around the defensive line, though, and he could wind up getting plenty of snaps.

Wingo struggled at points in the preseason and is undersized, so time will tell what his immediate impact is. However, there’s plenty to like about his potential within Aaron Glenn’s defense.