The Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) Caring Foundation is partnering with the Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation for its fourth season of Strike Out the Stigma, an initiative focused on raising awareness and support for veteran mental health across North Dakota.

A special Strike Out the Stigma night to engage with fans and share mental health resources will be Tuesday, June 23, at the Minot Hot Tots game at Corbett Field, 1124 E. Burdick Expressway, Minot. Doors will open at 5:35 p.m. and the game starts at 6:35 p.m.

Through partnerships with baseball and softball teams statewide, including the Minot Hot Tots and Honeybees, this July initiative turns every strikeout thrown at home games into a donation to support veterans, according to BCBSND Caring Foundation information. Funds will help expand access to retreats and peer connection opportunities.

The impact of that connection can be life changing.

“That’s not me,” an Iraq veteran thought when attending his first veterans-only retreat with the Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation. As he listened to others share their struggles, he believed their experiences were different from his.

But something stayed with him.

Months later, he returned. During conversations around a bonfire and over shared meals, he began to recognize pieces of his own story in others. That realization led him to begin counseling and medication, earn a promotion at work and rebuild important relationships with his family.

His story is a reminder that healing can take time and often begins with connection.

“Sometimes veterans come to us thinking they don’t need help, but when they are surrounded by others who truly understand, something shifts,” said Tracy Dunham, founder and executive director of the Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation. “We help people realize they are not alone, and that can open the door to meaningful change in their lives.”

“We know veterans can face unique challenges when it comes to mental health,” said Amber Blomberg, executive director of the BCBSND Caring Foundation. “Through Strike Out the Stigma, we are proud to support the Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation and help expand access to resources and connection across North Dakota.”

“This partnership means a lot to us because it helps us reach more veterans and reminds them they are not alone,” Dunham said. “The support from BCBSND Caring Foundation allows us to create more opportunities for connection and continue growing our mission across North Dakota.”

The BCBSND Caring Foundation and Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation encourage community members to be intentional about mental health by checking in, reaching out and using resources available at www.bcbsnd.com/strikeout.