Meet the Teams!

WANTED: YOUR TEAM INFO

Send pictures, videos, words of encouragement, memories of a loved one lost by suicide and anything team related to highlight on this page.

Team Evergreen:

Team Evergreen- The Run/Walk/Skate (RWS) for Suicide Prevention is the premier public event for suicide awareness and healing for suicide loss survivors in northern Minnesota. Many families, friends, and advocates participate in the event to honor a loved one lost to suicide. The pandemic has led to too much isolation, inactivity, and many of us have gained weight (beware of the COVID “19”) and are out of shape. Governor Tim Walz’s experts are projecting the spike in COVID-19 for around Memorial Day. We should try to be in great shape, with super lung capacity coming into September. The RunWalkSkate can breathe a little life into all of us. Start walking, jogging, or skating. Build stamina and endurance while supporting this worthy cause. We would love to have you on our team. Join Team Evergreen. This guy to the right is a former Evergreen Staffer. He is an avid runner and one year decided to run a marathon... the Blue Ox to be exact, and he won! He will be running for us this year all the way from Croatia where he is doing missionary work. Way to go James!

Evergreen Youth Leadership Council (YLC) (below) is a group of current and former foster youth ages 14-23 committed to improving the foster care system from within. The Evergreen YLC is one of only 7 regional youth leadership councils in the state of Minnesota. Together, we comprise the MN Youth Leadership Council (MnYLC). The Evergreen YLC was founded in order to: Give youth a voice in order to improve the foster care system both locally and statewide, strengthen services for youth aging out of care represent the interests of youth in policy-making and training, provide leadership opportunities, and have fun in the process!

Team Jahzy: Thank you Mark Little Elk for sharing your story and beautiful art!

Order Mark's Artwork Here:

Team Dare to Care: Our family has participated in the Run/Walk/Skate for Suicide Prevention in a variety of capacities for 13 years. This is an event that is important for a number of reasons. Our mental health is a part of who we are as people. We believe in the importance of being advocates for positive mental health and suicide prevention where we live, work and play. We participate in this event to continue to have these important public health topics in the forefront of discussion, to help financially support suicide prevention efforts in our community and support suicide loss survivors.

Team Faith:

Team Faith is taking part in this event to honor Faithlyn VanBruggen, who was lost to suicide, in July of 2018. Faithlyn was attending Bemidji State University and was excited to be apart of the Bemidji cheer team to cheer on the Beavers! Faithlyn was lost at the young age of 19 years old. Her kind and delicate heart touched so many and will always be remembered! We take part in this race to honor Faith and to support the cause of suicide prevention.

Team Michael

This is in remembrance of Michael Hanowski, who lost to suicide May 3 of 2013. He was a loving father of three, a brother to four and a friend to many. One of his favorite things to do was play and coach basketball. He owned and operated Broadway Limousine where he was privileged to be a boss to many. He enjoyed hunting, boating and spending time with his kids. As his daughter my fondest memories lay within the number of times he would take us kids tubing on holidays or birthday parties. His smile, laugh and words of wisdom are missed everyday. We participate in this event to support suicide prevention efforts and to help make it known that YOU MATTER!

MN Northern Region Vietnam War Veterans PTSD Group