John Preston has dedicated his life to service.
A U.S. Marine Corps Iraq War veteran, active firefighter, singer-songwriter, and mental health advocate, Preston has built a mission centered on helping veterans and first responders understand that they do not have to carry their struggles alone.
Rather than leaving one form of service behind for another, Preston has continued serving others throughout every chapter of his life. Today, he uses music, storytelling, public speaking, and long-distance awareness hikes to spark conversations around PTSD, trauma, suicide prevention, and healing.
At the center of that mission is 22 and You, an awareness initiative Preston created after losing his brother, Mike, to suicide.
Turning Tragedy Into Purpose
The 22 and You initiative is built around a simple but powerful concept: carrying the weight that so many veterans and first responders silently bear every day.
Through the program, Preston completes long-distance awareness hikes while carrying a 22-kilogram (48.5-pound) pack for 22 miles each day. The weight symbolizes the invisible burdens of trauma, grief, PTSD, depression, and mental health struggles often carried by those who serve.
The hikes are designed not only to raise awareness but also to create meaningful conversations with veterans, first responders, families, and community members along the route.
“My goal is to encourage veterans and first responders to seek help when they’re struggling and remind them that they don’t have to carry those burdens alone,” Preston says.
What began as a personal response to loss has evolved into a national advocacy effort focused on resilience, healing, and connection.
Carry the Weight: A Documentary in Production
Preston is currently the subject of an upcoming documentary, Carry the Weight, which follows one of his most ambitious awareness hikes to date.
The film documents a 700-mile journey from South Carolina to his hometown in Kentucky in honor of his brother Mike. Along the way, Preston meets veterans, first responders, and families affected by suicide, using the hike as a catalyst for conversations about trauma, mental health, recovery, and hope.
More than a documentary about endurance, Carry the Weight explores the emotional and mental burdens many people carry in silence and the power of community support in overcoming them.
The film is scheduled for release next year.
Service Beyond the Uniform
While many veterans speak about the challenges of transitioning into civilian life, Preston’s story is different.
His journey has been defined by a continued commitment to service—from the Marine Corps to the fire service and now through advocacy, music, and storytelling.
As an active firefighter, he continues serving his community on the front lines while using his creative work to reach audiences far beyond the firehouse.
His music provides another avenue for sharing stories of resilience, sacrifice, loss, and healing, helping connect with people who may not otherwise engage in conversations surrounding mental health.
Breaking the Stigma
Preston’s advocacy work reaches a broad audience that includes veterans, active-duty military personnel, firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMTs, paramedics, military families, and individuals impacted by trauma and mental health challenges.
Through nationwide speaking engagements, awareness campaigns, community outreach initiatives, and public events, he continues to advocate for greater mental health awareness and suicide prevention resources.
His message remains consistent:
Seeking help is not weakness.
Healing is possible.
And no one should have to carry their burdens alone.
Looking Ahead
As Preston continues expanding the 22 and You initiative, nationwide speaking engagements, awareness hikes, and music performances, he remains focused on one goal: saving lives.
With Carry the Weight currently in production and new advocacy initiatives on the horizon, Preston hopes to continue creating spaces where veterans and first responders feel seen, supported, and empowered to ask for help when they need it.
For Preston, the mission is deeply personal—but its impact extends far beyond his own story.