Last Friday night, the community gathered for the annual Everybody Hurts Run, Walk, and Ride event. People of all ages participated, from runners to walkers to cyclists, united for a vital cause—raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.
About 80 attendees took part in the 5K, making the most of the beautiful evening. They enjoyed a delicious dinner and had the chance to bid on various silent auction items. Dawn Heying, the founder of Everybody Hurts, expressed her gratitude: “We had a late surge of participants, and if we could order weather like this every year, we would!”
The organization, created after the tragic loss of Heying’s daughter, Brittney, to suicide in 2020, successfully raised funds to continue its scholarship program and support mental health initiatives in Chickasaw County. “Your support means the world to us,” Heying said, highlighting the community’s embrace of mental health awareness.
This year marked the sixth time Everybody Hurts held the event, bringing back Ryan Nesbit, a Dunkerton native. Ryan started the “Alive and Running” program to honor his friend who took his own life in 1991. “Running reminds me of my friend,” Ryan shared. He stressed the importance of these gatherings and mentioned an encouraging statistic: the suicide rate is indeed decreasing. However, he believes Iowa can do better, especially regarding accessibility to mental health care. “We rank 47th in the nation for available beds and counselors. We need to invest more in mental health services,” he added.
Ashley Evans, director of Senior Life Solutions at MercyOne New Hampton Medical Center, made a heartfelt appeal for connection in times of struggle. “You can’t always tell who is hurting,” she noted, emphasizing the need for supportive conversations about mental health. “We need to talk about mental health just like we talk about other health issues, like high blood pressure.”
This event was more than a run or bike ride; it was about community, support, and making a difference. Gathering so many people in one place for a shared cause is a powerful reminder that we can all contribute to change. In a world where conversations around mental health are slowly shifting, events like this help eliminate stigma and encourage understanding.
Ultimately, Everybody Hurts serves not just as a reminder of the struggles many face but also as a beacon of hope and solidarity. When we come together, we can lift each other up and foster a healthier, more supportive community.
