2020 Cross Country Ride for Mental Health Awareness

For those who are struggling with mental illness, contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or  for more information.

September is Suicide Prevention Month and one family has made it their mission to help others facing mental health issues.

Part of this mission includes a cross country motorcycle ride, Jeremy and Kathryn Hawke of Traverse City have created in honor of their son, . The ride starts Wednesday, September 23 from at 2 p.m. The ride will begin in Traverse City and end at the tip of the Florida Keys, on October 3. 

“We’re going to wind up through Boyne City. Our family has a place there that was very special to Alex, so we’ll drive by there and give a wave. Then to St. Ignace and then on to Copper Harbor and then we’re going to wind our way down the west side of Lake Michigan on surface roads and ultimately end up in Key West,” says Jeremy Hawke.

They want to understand that it’s OK not to be OK and that this is something in memory of Alex.

“He was just a sweet kid. He was really strong. He was loved by his family. He was highly independent, and so, with his independence came the issue of struggling and asking for help and we talked about his mental illness and what he was going through a lot, but I think he kept stuff quiet because he didn’t want to worry or upset me,” says Kathryn Hawke.

If you would like more information about the 2020 Cross Country Ride for Mental Health or if you would like to make donations to their cause and other mental health charities .

Jeremy and Kathryn Hawke plan to update people along their cross country ride through their Instagram page by

For more resources about suicide prevention through Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan .

For those who are struggling with mental illness, contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or  for more information.