Participants' physical challenges were symbolic of the invisible burdens borne by military veterans.
They weight they carried Saturday was symbolic, a way to visualize the invisible burden borne by military veterans.
Participants in the 8-mile Carry the Fallen Ruck March lugged logs, backpacks and flags as they sought to raise awareness and funds to help those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and fight its sometimes-suicidal effects.
One of the march's organizers, Phillipsburg resident Anthony Doran, suffered from PTSD himself and lost his older brother to it.
Saturday's event started with a ceremony at the Alpha Pavilion, then stepped off for the route from Alpha to Phillipsburg.
Enlistee takes 22-hour march around county
Money raised goes to the nonprofit Active Heroes charity. The Lehigh Valley's fundraising squad, called Team Tenderfoot, was started in 2014 by Easton resdient Greg Troxell, a friend of Doran's.
More information on Active Heroes is available on its website, activeheroes.org. Team Tenderfoot also has a fundraising page.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.