MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – Survivors of suicide loss and more than 100 bike enthusiasts are on a mission to put a stop to suicide.
The 8th annual Ride 2 End Suicide is a fundraiser for counseling, education, and suicide prevention.
Participants rode about 20 miles in Washington Township and Stony Creek Metro Park.
The ride starts at a trailhead near Capital Banquet Center in Washington Township with what organizers call the Memory Mile. The Memory Mile features signs with photos of people being honored during the event. On the other side of the sign are state and national suicide statistics.
The topic isn’t easy to talk about but at Ride 2 End Suicide founders Lou and Terri Jozefiak take it head on because their mission is personal.
“We lost our daughter (Marie) to suicide,” Terri Jozefiak said. “She was just 21 and it was very unexpected. We had no inkling that this was going to happen and after we got over our shock and grief we wanted to try and help others who might be struggling with the same thing.”
Their youngest daughter is the first photo on the Memory Mile.
Ride 2 End Suicide has raised more than $200,000 since it started eight years ago, contributing to counseling services, intervention, text support, and workshops for teens.
This year, the annual event will benefit three local nonprofits: Team Cont;nue Foundation, Know Resolve and Common Ground. For more on each organization click here.
Common Ground has been involved in the ride since the start.
Chief external relations officer for Common Ground, Jeff Kapuscinski said they are seeing an increase in interest in their services.
“We, last year, opened a behavioral urgent care, that program is virtual, and people can access that through our website,” said Kapuscinski. “We also offer walk-in services in Pontiac.”
Common Ground also answers calls for 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Hot Line.
Money raised from the ride will go towards more people getting access to those resources.
“I think people tend to suffer in silence I think if it’s been one benefit from the pandemic it’s that it’s raised the awareness that there are resources for people and that you don’t have to suffer with some of these issues,” Kapuscinski said.
To know the ride and the impact it continues to make will forever be a part of Marie Jozefiak’s legacy means the world to her family.
“She smiled all the time, and we just want to keep spreading smiles,” Terri Jozefiak said.
You can donate to Ride 2 End Suicide until the end of August. Click here to learn more.