FOURTH ANNUAL TRISTAN BILLMAYER SUICIDE WALK/AWARENESS WALK A SUCCESS
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Shown here is the majority of the walkers as they set out on the 8 mile walk back into Turner. There were people of all ages, young and old. Every couple miles were yard signs, that gave encouragement and words of advice like the one shown, "Not all wounds are so obvious. Walk GENTLY in the lives of others." The signs had a serene backdrop of Nature under the Big Flat skies with harvest well underway in the background. It was such a quiet, beautiful day for the walk. Shown here are a portion of little ones that rode their bicycle from the Catholic Church back into Turner. All but about a half mile was on pavement so biking was pretty enjoyable to the kiddos. They managed to get into town rather quickly and then had fun on the playground at the park while waiting for the walkers to come in. It was a day of camaraderie and spreading awareness.
The fourth Annual Tristan Billmayer Suicide/Awareness Walk was a huge success on Sunday under the sunny Big Flat skies. The day was kicked off with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Turner/Hogeland Lions Club. The fantastic meal, which is a specialty cooked by these men on the Big Flat, is always looked forward to each time they host a breakfast. A large crowd took advantage of this specialty and were able to fill their stomachs before the 8 mile walk later in the morning.
Trent, Adam, Sarah, Shawna, and Ella Billmayer. They continue to support Awareness of Suicide and prevention after losing their own, Tristan, four years ago in May to Suicide. They do this walk in his memory and hope to spread prevention and awareness of this mental disease. Be sure to look for more pictures in next weeks edition.
When the meal concluded, the crowd moved to the Turner School Gymnasium where they had a short assembly with guest speakers, Jana McPherson-Hauer and Undersheriff, Frank Billmayer. Shawna Billmayer greeted everyone and said thank you's to the many people who made this event fall into place. Ella Billmayer, introduced Hauer and made her welcome to the gymnasium full of guests including athletes from Chinook, Harlem, Turner, Big Sandy, and both the men and women's Cross Country runners from Northern. It was so empowering to see the support that was shown.
Mrs. Hauer is the nurse of the Blaine County Health Department located in Chinook, Montana. She gave some astronomical statistics of Suicide and touched on her personal experiences with depression and mental health.
Undersheriff, Frank Billmayer spoke about the center of life and quality of life along with the stigma with mental health.
Mrs. Hauer presented the Billmayer family with a recognition Plaque.
At the conclusion of the event, the large group boarded buses, provided for by Frank McGuire and his nephew, Cody Ballard, and headed to the Catholic Church west of Turner out on the Prairies of the Big Flat to begin the 8 mile trek back into Turner. Upon returning to Turner, the group had a time of reflection and socializing before parting ways back to their homes. Again, thanks to everyone who made this event possible and those who continually show support and awareness to mental health.
