Help Ashlyn raise money

Hi everyone, this year I will be participating in the Life;Story 5k. This 5k helps raise awareness/prevention of suicide. I have battled with my own mental health ever since I was little. I know individuals that I was close with that took their own lives due to bullying, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more. It is important that we all know and understand what we can do to help those around us. September is suicide prevention month, however, every month is suicide prevention month in my eyes. I am helping raise awareness of suicide prevention and hope you would consider donating. Your donation will be used to help save lives and spread awareness.

This is my story... I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety shortly after my older brother had passed away due to an ATV accident while home on leave. My older brother, who I will be racing/walking for, was the one person I looked up to the most. He had battled with bullying his whole life, even when he was a young adult. I do want to specify that he did not take his life, but he struggled with bullying and his own mental health. I was in the fourth grade when this traumatic event had occurred. The way I acted had changed and I became a troubled kid. I got bullied in school and I had no friends. This led me to self-harming and not wanting to be here anymore. I couldn't talk to an adult because it felt like I was getting in trouble. The individuals that were bullying me did not get in trouble because they denied everything. I lived my life as if nothing was happening. I became closed off and refused to talk about my problems. When I was in high school, I became the bully. I was not happy with myself so I felt as if I should put that pain on others, which I am not proud of. My depression and anxiety had gotten worse during high school as I did not have many friends. I was in a relationship that was not good during most of my high school years which affected my friendships. I was physically and mentally abused by my partner at the time, but no one had believed me. I was scared to reach out to others and tell them what was going on because I was terrified I was going to get hurt. Shortly after that relationship had ended, I had no one. I had to rebuild my friendships and work on my mental health. After I had graduated high school, I knew that I wanted to go into the mental health field and help those that went through similar situations like me. I worked in DCFS and helped adolescents/young adults, and now I work for Centerstone. Centerstone has given me a voice and an opportunity to help others that are struggling. I would not be here today if it weren't for my childhood best friend and my family.

There are many individuals in my life battling with their own mental health and I am thinking about everyone. This 5k is not just to honor those lost to suicide, but those that are battling with their mental health and have experienced bullying, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more.

The individuals that I will be racing/walking for are:

Derek DeWitt

Shane West

Wyatt Lippoldt

Zach Pasley

Gavin Miller