Under beautiful skies at Loudy-Simpson Park, residents of the Yampa Valley gathered on Saturday for the Community Recovery and Suicide Awareness Walk to share stories, find resources and honor loved ones. 

Organizers said the event exists to build connections across the Yampa Valley’s recovery community and to put help within reach.

“The recovery walk was started in 2024 in an effort to make an event that would allow people in recovery from the entire community and their various recovery groups to express and celebrate their recovery together,” said Kim Colby, one of the event’s organizers. “People draw strength from one another and are fortified by each others’ stories.”

Colby said Seven, a recovery program held Mondays at The Lighthouse of Craig, consulted with a recovery leader in another city who described how a walk strengthened their local network. That model inspired the event in Craig. 

“Bringing the conversation about the issues to the forefront also brings awareness of resources and physical and emotional support,” she said. “We want those in recovery and those struggling with mental health to make as many connections as possible.”

Saturday’s event was led by Amanda St. Martin. There were also partner groups on site as well. 

“We hope this brings more awareness to recovery and suicide prevention,” Amanda told the crowd. “Our mission is to help break down and remove the stigmas so that people feel safe to reach out and get the help that they need.”

Partners included Celebrate Recovery, Warriors at Heart, Seven’s Meeker team and Porch Light, along with community volunteers.

“We all know that suicide is happening at alarming rates in our communities,” Amanda said. “Last year in Craig alone, we sadly lost nine individuals, and this year we have lost five.” 

She urged residents to “link arms with those who are walking the recovery journey” and to stand with families whose lives have been changed forever by the tragic loss of loved ones. 

Speakers shared personal stories that underscored the event’s focus on connection. 

Ashley Lyster spoke about losing her son Eli to suicide and the young friends he left behind, whom she calls the “Lost Boys.” She described grief, community advocacy and the decision to move from survival to purpose.

“We have to be willing to speak the unspeakable,” Lyster said. “Right now there’s so much shame and stigma attached to mental health and attached to suicide that everybody suffers in silence. I think the way to break that is connection, real true connection.” 

She has launched the Moffat County Anti-Suicide Squad, which meets monthly to encourage training, neighbor check-ins and practical support. 

“Make it okay to ask for help,” she said. “It’s a strength to ask for help. It’s not a weakness.”

Photographer and speaker Hannah Pritchard, who grew up in Meeker and now lives in Grand Junction, shared her family’s losses to suicide and her own crisis after college. She credited a Colorado Springs pastor and his wife for stepping in when she felt isolated and hopeless. 

“I had to choose to make the decision that I was going to continue on using those tools over and over so I could heal and grow,” she said. “If you are struggling with addiction or struggling with not wanting to be here, tell someone. That is the first step.”

Amanda St. Martin then returned to the mic not only as another voice for the day’s purpose. She reiterated the call she made at the outset to remove stigma and to build safe places for help. She reminded the crowd that connection and practical resources go hand in hand and invited attendees to keep showing up for one another after the walk ended.

Amanda then introduced her husband, Michael St. Martin, who shared a brief account of his alcohol addiction and recovery. His story mirrored Amanda’s opening message about connection and accountability. 

“As of two days ago, I’ve been sober eight years,” he told the crowd. “It’s recoveries every day, one day at a time.” 

He said faith, family support and accountability helped him start over and become the husband and father his family needed and that he always wanted to be. 

Colby said that vision for a healthier Craig depends on partnerships and practical access. 

“A mentally healthy community is a place where addiction and suicide or depression are met with support and love,” she said. “When we provide resources, love and support to those who are not okay and not treat them as if they need to hide their problems, we can start to become effective at preventing and healing the devastation.”

Saturday’s walk ended with a group photo and a loop through the park, but organizers emphasized that the work continues at weekly meetings, church basements and kitchen tables across the valley.

“In our community, those with recovery as a mission truly work together as a team,” Colby said. “We hope to add a little bit of strength and hope by hosting and participating in events like a recovery walk.