Two U.S. military veterans are planning a race through the Chesapeake Bay this summer as part of an effort to promote mental health for veterans. Chad SeBour, a former U.S. Army paratrooper and the race organizer, and Eduardo Diaz Rico, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Pennsylvania, are training this week at the Slaughter Creek Marina. They plan to use the race to raise money for Patriot Point.

The John Smith Expedition Race begins June 2 with a kickoff event at the Slaughter Creek Marina and Palm Beach Willies. The race then will take the duo and their boat on a 1,000-nautical mile clockwise tour of the Bay, starting and ending in Dorchester County.

“A little more work needs to be done on the boat, but we’re going to take it out for a couple days,” SeBour said, adding that he hopes to livestream much of the journey around the Chesapeake on Facebook. “Get a feel for the boat, get a feel for each other and basic living conditions in such a confined spot.”