LI's SailAhead To Raise Awareness Of Veteran PTSD, Suicide At NYC Parade

NEW YORK, NY — SailAhead, a Huntington Station nonprofit that helps Long Island veterans combat PTSD, is set to participate in Saturday's Veterans Day Parade in New York City, according to the charity.

The nonprofit, started in 2014, will raise awareness about PTSD and veteran suicide rates by bringing a special float with them.

The parade features groups representing veterans of all eras, military units, civic and youth groups. Floats, military and vintage vehicles are often included in the parade. This year, SailAhead will be bringing one of their boats to join the parade to highlight the use of these boats and sailing in the work they do to help veterans.

"At our events, a veteran can feel taken care of, and our supportive community of veterans, sailors, and civilians create a special ambiance of a kind of solidarity that we seldom feel in life," Sean Duclay, co-founder of SailAhead, told Patch. "Dozens, to hundreds of strangers are united in a common cause characterized by sailing, good company, and good food! We have found that this experience has the effect of restoring hope to many of the veterans who are suffering from post-traumatic stress and depression."

SailAhead’s mission is to use the therapeutic properties of sailing to address the mental health needs of local veterans. It helps veterans by organizing sailing events and races, creating opportunities for veterans to experience the healing benefits of the sea, build connections, and foster a sense of team building and community.

Often one of the things veterans miss the most about being in the military is the feeling of being part of a team, according to SailAhead. By allowing veterans to participate on a sailing team, racing together on the open water, they help veterans to connect with others and find solace in their team and nature.

DuClay said he and his brother, Kilian, grew up helping veterans, when they learned that the U.S.'s veterans are "some of the most diverse people we have ever known."

"In helping veterans, we have made life-long friends, and we can move forward in life knowing that we have profoundly touched people’s lives in a way that not everyone can," Sean said. "We are also proud to know that we have saved lives, and there is no greater pleasure than to help someone in need. There are more Long Islanders that don’t know how to sail than do. We take this personally and take it upon ourselves to bring as many of our neighbors to experience a true island experience."