On September 6, Manteno resident Jake Smith completed what has become an annual walk to raise awareness about suicide prevention and mental health, this year walking more than 30 miles around Manteno.
Smith first began walking about six years ago, though it’s only been the past few years he upped the mileage to 30. Since Smith began his walk, he has progressively increased the mileage each year. The walk is personal to him, having struggled with his own mental health and suicidal ideations in the past.
September also marks National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to conduct his walk.
Smith’s childhood was fraught with bullying, and he said he had few friends growing up. These days, he’s doing much better – and it’s clear he’s got a lot of people behind him.
“He’s an outstanding young man. I support him and what he’s trying to do. He’s got a good heart,” Manteno Mayor Annette LaMore said, noting that a welcome party, consisting of about 15 people, was waiting for him at the end, all very proud of him and his team of walkers.
Smith has a message for those who have suffered from bullying or depression: “It doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Who you are today doesn’t have to be who you will be in 10 years down the road,” Smith explained.
“Ten years ago, I was at the absolute lowest point in my life, even less than 10 years ago. I had no hope at all. I had no vision. I felt like I had no path. You really have to set your mind, and you can do it if you want to. You can change for the better, you can improve yourself, and even help others along the way. You have a purpose so long as you’re alive, you have time to find that purpose and live that purpose,” Smith said.
Smith has done a lot of work himself to improve his mental health, but he credits his faith and family for giving him a hand up. Without his family and faith, Smith said that he wouldn’t be alive today.
The goal of Smith’s walk is to “encourage more people to support suicide awareness” and draw attention to a worthy cause, Smith said. It’s important to spread awareness locally.
Above all, it’s a message of hope and, through Smith’s walk each year, he’s hoping to spread more of it. He also is doing what he can to receive funds for local organizations that offer support.
He established a bank account at Midland Bank, Miles for Mental Health and Suicide Awareness, where he will distribute funds to local organizations that provide support. He also set up GoFundMe accounts for six organizations he feels are worthy of donations: Samuel R. Meyers Foundation for Suicide and Mental Health Awareness, Fortitude Community Outreach, Project Headspace and Timing, Iroquois Mental Health Center of Manteno, Harbor House of Kankakee, and Clove Alliance.
Over the years, several community members walked as much as they could alongside him. Last year, Shaun Brav completed the full 30 miles with him.
This year, Smith was joined again by Brav and newcomer Emily Hermann, who walked the entirety of the walk to get in 30 miles each. They began just after 7:30 a.m. and walked all day, up and down the streets of Manteno. Derek Grant joined them at the start and walked a total of 25 miles, wrapping up his journey in Kankakee. Others joined them to walk parts of the walk with them.
Grant is the founder of nonprofit Cultivating Our Purpose Everyday, which aims to help those who have been incarcerated reenter society. Grant also has chaired Kankakee County’s Out of the Darkness Walk and is fundraising for his team.
“I think it was pretty well received around the community, between having a few new people join this year and the support in the streets and even through Facebook messages and posts. And the police escort that we got at the end definitely showed the community is behind this cause,” Smith explained.
Smith documented each mile, with many commenting on his Facebook posts to offer words of encouragement.
The group concluded the long walk about 8:30 p.m. and were met with a welcome party at the Leo Hassett Center on Main Street in Manteno. They arrived in style, complete with a lights and sirens police escort from the Manteno Police Department for the last mile of the walk.
“I was there waiting for him when he finished the miles he walked,” Manteno Mayor Annette LaMore said. She waited for him last year before she was elected. This year, she made a call to the police chief to organize the police escort.
LaMore talked about how thrilled Smith was in years past to have someone notice his efforts – and with her new position as an elected official and the addition of the police escort – she said Smith was absolutely elated.
“Manteno needs to realize there’s no perfect life, no perfect village. We all have problems. We all need to be like Jake, who shows people there are things that can be done if we all work together,” LaMore said.
Smith has plans to continue the walk for the foreseeable future, so next September, keep an eye out for his posts online.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.
what an awful sign