Three people touched by suicide are nearly finished walking 700 miles from Parris Island, South Carolina to Cincinnati to raise awareness about mental health for first responders. John Preston is a former Marine whose brother Michael, who was also a Marine, committed suicide in 2016. With him are his wife and a childhood friend who lost his wife to suicide last year.
“We've had a lot of places where there were no shoulders there were only ditches a river and kind of really ducking cars at really high speeds.”
Preston said he’s gone through three pairs of shoes on their journey, and the physical toll is heavy – and symbolic.
“You know, we're doing this to show that we do take wear and tear in life and that ability to keep pushing through that until, you know, help arrives, because you might ask for help, and it might not come right away.”
The trio is scheduled to arrive in Cincinnati December 12th – just across the river from Newport, where Michael Preston was a police officer. Anyone in crisis can call or text “988” free-of-charge to connect with suicide prevention, mental health, and substance abuse counselors. It’s available to all Kentuckians 24/7/365. I'm John McGary.
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