North Dakota Veteran Cycles across entire state to raise money for veteran service dogs

22-year-old North Dakota Army veteran Andrew Nathan was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and the North Dakota Army National Guard, and now he’s using his strength and his determination to raise money for veterans service dogs. 

According to Fox News, this weekend, Nathan will be biking across the state of North Dakota as a way to raise money for Patriot Assistance Dogs, a nonprofit organization that pairs dogs with veterans with PTSD and other issues that might benefit from a service dog. 

The organization provides certified psychiatric service dogs to qualified U.S. Military veterans at no cost to them. To top it off,  almost all of the dogs are rescues.

A North Dakota Army veteran will be cycling across the state this weekend to raise money for Patriot Assistance Dogs, a nonprofit that teams animals with former military personnel suffering post-traumatic stress disorder and other issues linked to their service.

Andrew Nathan, a 22-year veteran who was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and the North Dakota Army National Guard, is hoping that his initiative will raise $50,000 for the Detroit Lakes, Minn., group through a GoFundMe page he set up.

Patrol Assistance Dogs provides trained and certified psychiatric service dogs to qualified U.S. Military veterans at no cost to them. The group currently has over 200 dog and veteran teams, with over 50 veteran-owned dogs. Almost all are rescued or surrendered.

Nathan is currently the employment coordinator at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Fargo and will be cycling 378 miles, starting at the Montana border and ending in Fargo, at the Minnesota border. So far, he has already raised $1,400 on his GoFundMe. 

“I want to serve more,'” Nathan, who began training earlier this year, told KVLY News for a segment on his fundraiser.

“In no way, shape or form do I think this is going to be a walk in the park,” he said. “It’s going to be tough, but I’m looking forward to it. I’m excited.”