Community gathers for Walk to Remember, Walk for Hope

EATON — Walkers and runners on a mission gathered Saturday morning, Sept. 6, at Eaton High School for the 14th annual Walk to Remember, Walk for Hope, a suicide awareness and prevention 5K that carried walkers and runners through Fort St. Clair Park.

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Before the event began, community leaders and students delivered messages of hope, compassion and perseverance. Autumn Green, Preble County Mental Health and Recovery Board Community Programs Manager, told participants the day was about more than awareness.

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“It’s about hope, connection, and reminding each other that no one is alone,” Green said. She encouraged those struggling with mental health challenges to seek help and reminded the crowd that the world is “a better place with you in it.”

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Green also extended gratitude to sponsors, including Bullen Ultrasonics, whose support makes local suicide prevention resources possible. “Your partnership truly saves lives,” she said.

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Michelle Gebhart, with Gebhart Counseling, reflected on the walk’s history and its ripple effect in the community. She recalled how a high school senior approached her 15 years ago with a vision to make a difference in suicide prevention, leading to the event’s creation in 2011.

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“When a stone is dropped into a lake, it quickly disappears from sight, but its impact leaves behind a series of ripples that broaden and reach across the water,” Gebhart said. “That is the impact one youth can make.”

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She also highlighted the work of Hope Squads — peer-mentoring groups active in local middle and high schools — before introducing student speaker Bella Adkins.

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Adkins, a Hope Squad member, encouraged participants to “be the light” for others who may be struggling in silence.

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“Every day, we walk past people whose stories we don’t know,” she said. “Some carry invisible weights: anxiety, grief, pain, fear, depression — things they’re not sure how to explain. We assume they’re okay just because they’re smiling. But behind the mask, there’s a side we don’t see.”

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Adkins reminded the crowd that the power of kindness can be transformative. “Kindness is a quiet revolution,” she said. “It doesn’t shout. It doesn’t push. It just shows up, again and again. And it changes people.”

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Pastor Aaron Holman reflected on his own experiences as a runner and during personal mental health struggles, comparing “hitting the wall” in a marathon to moments of hopelessness in life. He explained that when runners hit the wall, “your body runs out of readily available energy, and so it sends you very clear signals, stop. Stop doing this. Why are you running?” Similarly, he said, during his own struggles, “I developed this mindset that I would never feel different and that things were hopeless.”

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He encouraged the audience to see the walk as a reminder that no one has to endure those difficult times alone. “The reason why we’re here is to tell people when you feel that you cannot continue—we’re here,” Holman said, noting that community, encouragement, and support are sources of strength that can help people push through.

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The walk concluded with participants making their way from Eaton High School’s parking lot, through the tree-lined paths of Fort St. Clair Park, in remembrance of loved ones lost and in support of those still struggling.

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Organizers emphasized that the event not only raises awareness, but also reinforces the community’s commitment to ending stigma, breaking silence, and ensuring help is always within reach.

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Originally published at https://www.registerherald.com/2025/09/16/community-gathers-for-walk-to-remember-walk-for-hope/