Nonprofit in Imperial County helping to save Veterans lives

Saving lives one rep at a time

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - Every day 22 Veterans take their life, Reps 4 Vets has become a lifeline to those that may be thinking of doing the same. 

 Reps 4 Vets is a program promoting fitness and faith as a life-saving tool.

The non-profit was established right before the pandemic hit and was deemed essential.

 For Brendon Brown, the founder of the program and combat veteran this cause is personal.

“So actually I was going to take my life on a wednesday and I met another veteran that evening and by meeting him he asked me a question hey said hey man, what are you doing tomorrow? and that question saved my life,” said Brendon Brown, Founder.

The pandemic did not stop him from pursuing his mission. 

Brown is building a community a safe space for those struggling with mental illness.

“Umm as far as mentally I’ve had some challenges I wouldn’t consider myself severe but after being isolated at home it starts to bring out a lot of negative feelings umm so this was a great outlet,” said Raymond Gonzalez, Veteran.

4:13 owner Deuce Robertson says allowing the Reps 4 Vets program to function at his gym was a no-brainer. 

“I had a good friend take his life during this whole COVID thing he was a veteran and that it’s it’s pretty real you know PTSD is a real thing, Veteran’s suicide is a real thing and if we could offer our facility to help stop that then we’re all about it,” said Deuce Robertson, Owner.

 “One thing all veterans have is discipline and we want to bring that discipline and we want to bring that back and get them back to veterans wearing that uniform that is the most important thing they ever did and losing that uniform we lose ourselves and I just want to help them find themselves again and a path to a new beginning,” said Brown. 

Brown’s goal is to expand this program so that veterans throughout the country have access to this service.