Grand Canyon Hike to Stop Suicide
Donation protected
**UPDATE** On October 12, 2017, I hiked across the Grand Canyon (from the North Rim to the South Rim) to raise money and awareness for suicide prevention. With the help of generous friends, family, and anonymous donors, we far exceeded my goal to raise $6,535 dollars for suicide prevention.
All of the money raised will be treated as sacred and used for suicide prevention. Please check out the update section to see how these funds will be used.
My name is Seth Adam Smith. I'm an author, blogger, and YouTuber who is passionate about preventing suicide.
This October, I will hike ACROSS the Grand Canyon in Arizona—from the North Rim to the South Rim. I will use this event as a way to accomplish three things: (1) raise awareness for Suicide Prevention, (2) raise money for a Suicide Prevention Scholarship at Anasazi Foundation , and (3) raise money to create additional resources to prevent suicide.
My initial goal was to raise a total of $6,535—one for every foot of change in elevation .
Why am I doing this? Because I am a survivor of a suicide attempt. I've since learned that life is worth living and I want to help others to move forward.
Throughout my life, I've struggled with chronic depression. When I was twenty years old, my battle with depression became so severe that I tried to end my life. Miraculously, I survived and with the help of my family and my friends (and access to incredible resources) I've learned how to work with my depression, move forward, and live a challenging but wonderful life.
On December 21st, 2016—the darkest day of the year—my daughter, Shannon, was born into this world. Holding her for the first time was a transformational experience for me. It was like holding a little piece of starlight. I was overwhelmed with gratitude—gratitude for this little life. I felt grateful to be a husband and a father. I felt grateful to be alive.
And then I remembered my suicide attempt.
I thought about how I had almost missed this moment and all of the thousands of moments that have made life worth fighting for.
While holding my daughter, I resolved to do everything I can do to prevent suicide—because life is worth living.
Each year, approximately one million people die by suicide. To put that into perspective: every 40 seconds someone in the world dies by suicide. And for every suicide, there are 25 people who attempt suicide.
But those aren't simply statistics—those are people. Those are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, teachers, neighbors, and friends. Those are people like you and me. Those are people, who—if given the proper care—can move forward and have wonderful, fulfilling lives.
With that in mind, I have determined to hike across the Grand Canyon in October. My route will take me from the North Rim to the South Rim—a grueling 23 miles with an elevation change of approximately 6,535 ft.
**Disclaimer** This trail is demanding and oftentimes dangerous and I do NOT recommend it to inexperienced hikers. I have hiked the Grand Canyon (Rim-to-Rim) many times before. I am familiar with the trail and I know my abilities and limitations. I will exercise every safety precaution and observe every regulation set forth by the National Park Service.
But why hike the Grand Canyon?
At Anasazi Foundation, I learned that life is like a walking through the wilderness of the world: it's challenging, painful, demanding, and difficult, but if you keep moving forward—step by step—you will reach the summit of your obstacles. Once there, you will stop, turn, and finally see everything in its proper perspective. There, you will see the beautiful panorama of your life and realize that it is worth every difficult step forward.
My goal, therefore, is to raise $6,535—one dollar for every foot of change in elevation. Each dollar helps and every donation will be treated as sacred and used to prevent suicide.
HOW THE MONEY WILL BE USED:
+ $5,000 Scholarship - Five thousand dollars will be given to Anasazi Foundation , to be used as a scholarship for an individual (or individuals) struggling with suicidal ideation. This money will be given to help them pay for the cost of the program at Anasazi.
Anasazi Foundation is a non-profit wilderness therapy program for at-risk youth and individuals who are struggling with the challenges of life. I have worked at Anasazi for many years and it has been instrumental to my recovery. As such, I want to use this event to give back and help others have the same opportunities as me.
+ $1,200+ for Media Production - One thousand two hundred dollars will be used to produce 30-50 professional videos filled with practical advice and help for individuals who are struggling with suicidal thoughts and feelings. Videos will also be created for people who are trying to help loved ones. These productions will be available to the public—for free—via YouTube.
These videos will be filmed by Leavitt Wells , a professional photographer and videographer who has worked with Imagine Dragons, Lindsey Stirling, Blake Shelton, Ellie Goulding, Luke Bryan and many others.
+ Small Expenditures - A small percentage of the funds raised will pay for expenditures necessary for the hike itself: gas for the drive, admission into Grand Canyon National Park, food for the journey, first aid supplies, and a small hotel for the night before the hike.
+ Any Additional Money - Any extra money, or additional funds, will be evenly divided and added to the scholarship and media production categories.
Please join me in my fight to prevent suicide by donating to this cause. Every donation helps!
And please SHARE this link through emails, Twitter, and on your Facebook timeline. Thank you so much and keep moving forward!
All of the money raised will be treated as sacred and used for suicide prevention. Please check out the update section to see how these funds will be used.
My name is Seth Adam Smith. I'm an author, blogger, and YouTuber who is passionate about preventing suicide.
This October, I will hike ACROSS the Grand Canyon in Arizona—from the North Rim to the South Rim. I will use this event as a way to accomplish three things: (1) raise awareness for Suicide Prevention, (2) raise money for a Suicide Prevention Scholarship at Anasazi Foundation , and (3) raise money to create additional resources to prevent suicide.
My initial goal was to raise a total of $6,535—one for every foot of change in elevation .
Why am I doing this? Because I am a survivor of a suicide attempt. I've since learned that life is worth living and I want to help others to move forward.
Throughout my life, I've struggled with chronic depression. When I was twenty years old, my battle with depression became so severe that I tried to end my life. Miraculously, I survived and with the help of my family and my friends (and access to incredible resources) I've learned how to work with my depression, move forward, and live a challenging but wonderful life.
On December 21st, 2016—the darkest day of the year—my daughter, Shannon, was born into this world. Holding her for the first time was a transformational experience for me. It was like holding a little piece of starlight. I was overwhelmed with gratitude—gratitude for this little life. I felt grateful to be a husband and a father. I felt grateful to be alive.
And then I remembered my suicide attempt.
I thought about how I had almost missed this moment and all of the thousands of moments that have made life worth fighting for.
While holding my daughter, I resolved to do everything I can do to prevent suicide—because life is worth living.
Each year, approximately one million people die by suicide. To put that into perspective: every 40 seconds someone in the world dies by suicide. And for every suicide, there are 25 people who attempt suicide.
But those aren't simply statistics—those are people. Those are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, teachers, neighbors, and friends. Those are people like you and me. Those are people, who—if given the proper care—can move forward and have wonderful, fulfilling lives.
With that in mind, I have determined to hike across the Grand Canyon in October. My route will take me from the North Rim to the South Rim—a grueling 23 miles with an elevation change of approximately 6,535 ft.
**Disclaimer** This trail is demanding and oftentimes dangerous and I do NOT recommend it to inexperienced hikers. I have hiked the Grand Canyon (Rim-to-Rim) many times before. I am familiar with the trail and I know my abilities and limitations. I will exercise every safety precaution and observe every regulation set forth by the National Park Service.
But why hike the Grand Canyon?
At Anasazi Foundation, I learned that life is like a walking through the wilderness of the world: it's challenging, painful, demanding, and difficult, but if you keep moving forward—step by step—you will reach the summit of your obstacles. Once there, you will stop, turn, and finally see everything in its proper perspective. There, you will see the beautiful panorama of your life and realize that it is worth every difficult step forward.
My goal, therefore, is to raise $6,535—one dollar for every foot of change in elevation. Each dollar helps and every donation will be treated as sacred and used to prevent suicide.
HOW THE MONEY WILL BE USED:
+ $5,000 Scholarship - Five thousand dollars will be given to Anasazi Foundation , to be used as a scholarship for an individual (or individuals) struggling with suicidal ideation. This money will be given to help them pay for the cost of the program at Anasazi.
Anasazi Foundation is a non-profit wilderness therapy program for at-risk youth and individuals who are struggling with the challenges of life. I have worked at Anasazi for many years and it has been instrumental to my recovery. As such, I want to use this event to give back and help others have the same opportunities as me.
+ $1,200+ for Media Production - One thousand two hundred dollars will be used to produce 30-50 professional videos filled with practical advice and help for individuals who are struggling with suicidal thoughts and feelings. Videos will also be created for people who are trying to help loved ones. These productions will be available to the public—for free—via YouTube.
These videos will be filmed by Leavitt Wells , a professional photographer and videographer who has worked with Imagine Dragons, Lindsey Stirling, Blake Shelton, Ellie Goulding, Luke Bryan and many others.
+ Small Expenditures - A small percentage of the funds raised will pay for expenditures necessary for the hike itself: gas for the drive, admission into Grand Canyon National Park, food for the journey, first aid supplies, and a small hotel for the night before the hike.
+ Any Additional Money - Any extra money, or additional funds, will be evenly divided and added to the scholarship and media production categories.
Please join me in my fight to prevent suicide by donating to this cause. Every donation helps!
And please SHARE this link through emails, Twitter, and on your Facebook timeline. Thank you so much and keep moving forward!
Organizer
Seth Adam Smith
Organizer
Mesa, AZ
