ENDURANCE
The Rocco Orlando Mission
The Why
My relationship to the veteran suicide crisis is an intimate one. These are my brothers and sisters. This was almost me. After two tours in Afghanistan, motorsport has pulled me through the darkest moments I’ve ever experienced. And through the platform it has provided, I am determined to raise support for those who bravely served our country in the Global War on Terror (GWOT). I want to take action, and stop just speaking about this issue, and truly connect these GWOT Veterans and their families, to the multitude of resources out there and find them the help they need and deserve.
65%
of Veterans entering treatment report alcohol as the primary substance for Substance Use Disorder(s): 2x the civilian rate
25%+
of all Veteran are affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
17
Veterans die by suicide each day - 1.5x the civilian rate
The Power of IMSA:
A Motorsport Partnership for Veteran Mental Health
The challenges faced by United States veterans upon returning to civilian life are profound, with mental health issues standing as a critical concern. Approximately 37-50% of veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq have been diagnosed with at least one mental illness, with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affecting nearly 25% of all veterans. Substance use disorders (SUDs) frequently co-occur with these conditions, with alcohol being the primary substance for 65% of veterans entering treatment—nearly double the civilian rate. The tragic consequence of these struggles is reflected in the alarming suicide rates; in 2017, an average of nearly 17 veterans died by suicide each day, a rate 1.5 times higher than that of civilians. These statistics underscore an urgent need for innovative and impactful support mechanisms.
An endurance sportscar racing racing program, specifically within the IMSA series, presents a powerful and dynamic platform to address these challenges and significantly benefit organizations and individuals dedicated to veterans' causes.
Audience
66% male and 34% female viewership, with an average household income of $109,000
Global Exposure
IMSA events are covered through NBC, USA Network, and Peacock, in addition to all social media channels
Conversion
Fans are 72% more likely to try a sponsor’s product/service, and 83% more likely to consciously support a sponsor’s product/service
40% YOY Growth
IMSA’s digital engagement saw 40% growth in overall social media followers (‘24), with 70% of YouTube subscribers under 44 years old
Partners
Ibogaine
On January 5, 2024, the internationally esteemed medical research journal “Nature Medicine” published the phenomenal results of a groundbreaking study of a cohort of U.S. SpecialForces veterans who traveled to Mexico to receive ibogaine treatment for traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. A single treatment fully resolved all their symptomatology which also included treatment resistant depression and anxiety. Diagnostic imaging studies confirmed that ibogaine has broad-based regenerative effects on the human brain which include the global restoration of white matter, the enlargement of brain structures responsible for emotional regulation and executive functioning, and a reversal of physiologic brain age. In the words of the study’s chief investigator, Dr. Nolan Williams, the data demonstrate that “Ibogaine is the most sophisticated drug on the planet.” Ibogaine is a legal medication in Mexico, Brazil, New Zealand and South Africa.