SANDPOINT, Idaho – Two Sandpoint residents have made it their goal to help raise awareness for suicide prevention and offers support for those who have lost loved ones.
The event is called “Walk for Hope” and starts on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. The event originated after the Sandpoint area got three suicides in 11 months. One of the friends of victims was tired of it happening and wanted his community to heal together.
Madison Wyman, 14, took her life on Nov. 2015. Her best friend Curtis Hauck took it very hard.
“After she passed away, I lost my passion for soccer and my will to do what I just did every day. I realized that should never happen to me or anybody else and I didn’t want that to ever happen again in our community,” Hauck said.
After Madison’s death, Hauck went to her mom, Jennifer Wyman to figure out what they could do.
They came up with the idea for the Long Bridge Walk. The walk goes across the Long Bridge twice for a total of four miles. The idea spread quickly and now many cities in Idaho and even in other states have reached out and said they were having a similar event.
Each participant will get a t-shirt and a balloon. The balloon is very people to write a personal message on and let go. The balloons will be released at the end of the walk.
“The whole point of the walk is to provide hope for those that are suffering and healing to those who have lost somebody,” Wyman said.
If you want to register, it will cost $25 for adults and $20 for kids. Registration is open at Kokanee Coffee from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday and you can register at the event. The starting point for the walk is at Dog Beach.
