Our Story
Avalanche Veterans Support and our mission is dedicated in memory of Matt Parry. Matt was the best friend of founder Ray Wier, and passed away after a courageous battle with PTSD. He proudly served with honor and bravery as Sergeant in the US Army from April 12, 2010 until his honorable discharge on July 17, 2015. He specialized as a combat Engineer and UAV drone pilot during his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Matt did not die on May 10 2024, but years ago in the mountains of Afghanistan. His wounds and injuries although unseen were mortal, and his memory lives on in every veteran we help.
Through Matt's journey with PTSD, we realized the greater need in the community for services like ours. Though Avalanche is new, we are working hard to build a strong foundation. Our mission will aways be to help veterans in any way we can, and connect them with the services and supports they need for a healthy future.
Meet Ray
Ray is our founder. A proud veteran of the United States Army who served a tour in Iraq, he was honorably discharged due to an injury sustained from his service. Upon leaving the military, he continued his legacy and passion for serving others as a volunteer ambulance member until his first child was born. Ray has extensive experience in health care in both the ICU emergency room and mental health ward. During the height COVID-19 pandemic, Ray worked on a COVID unit, and saw firsthand the impact it had on patients.
Since his discharge, he has suffered from his own mental health challenges. In early 2023, he took a decisive step toward wellness, embracing treatment and self-improvement. This journey led to remarkable personal achievements: Ray has shed 70 pounds, mastered a new instrument, and found solace in music therapy and counseling. His dedication to his own recovery is matched only by his commitment to supporting fellow veterans. Ray is passionate about providing care and assistance, always ready to extend a helping hand to his brothers and sisters in need.