On July 9, 2016, we said goodbye to a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend… my best friend, my favorite person, and my husband, Jay .

This could have been the final period on a tragic story.

However, together our team, The Jay Walkers, successfully raised close to $20,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention over the last few years. Thanks to them and to you, we’ve helped educate, advocate, raise awareness, and fight the stigma surrounding suicide.

You did this! You’ve made that happen.

So today, on the 8th anniversary of Jay’s passing, I ask you to join my team once again.

Walk with me in his memory (either virtually or in person). Help put a real face to suicide. Help advocate for better mental health care. Help educate others – to put to bed damaging myths. Help remove the stigma. Help show other families – other friends who are on this terrible journey, that there is hope – that they’re not alone – that there are people out there who understand and will support them.

Our goal this year is $9,880. (988 is the Crisis Hotline in the US).

I’m not going to lie, it’s a lofty goal that will take work. It’s going to take rolling up your sleeves and being comfortable being uncomfortable by talking to others and asking for their help – either to get other folks willing to walk or inviting them to make a small donation.

I believe in this team.

I believe we can do it.

Show others that even though each team walks with heavy hearts through their grief journey, this isn’t the end of their story and it’s not the end of Jay’s story.

Jay has and always will be more than one event.

To join our team for the walk in Austin, which takes place on October 26th at the Capitol, please follow this link and select “Join Our Team”. Please note, you don’t have to make a donation to participate in the walk.

However, if you’d like to make a donation, you have a few choices. You can either:

• Select the “Donate” button on the Team’s main page
• You can go directly to my fundraising page where I’ve offered a few incentives, or
• You can scroll down from the main page, find the Rosters tab, and help one of their other walks achieve their individual goals

It doesn’t matter what you decide to do – walk, donate, or both – just decide that today you plan to make a difference.

Thank you!