FF_091919

frankfortstationdaily.com news
the frankfort station | September 19, 2019 | 11
LWE grad’s organization to
debut ‘Remember Me’ walk
6
Sean Hastings
Contributing Editor
ForeverU’s “Remember
Me” walk on Saturday,
Sept. 21 in the New Lenox
Village Commons, 1 Veterans
Parkway, is a new
community walk to remember
children who lost
their lives too early.
ForeverU is a 501(c)(3)
youth development organization
that is empowering
youth to overcome adversity
through personal development
programs that
equip them to face life’s
greatest challenges and obstacles.
Ryan Hesslau, founder
and executive director
of ForeverU, and former
Lincoln-Way East student,
said the catalyst for the
walk came from wanting
to create a place where
families can come together
to remember and celebrate
the lives of the children
they, or other people have
lost. His motivation to start
ForeverU came when he
researched stories of students
his age when he was
in high school who had
commit suicide. He wanted
to be able find a solution
to ensure the youth who
were struggling had the resilience
to keep living, the
website states.
“Through our time we
have worked a lot with
families that have lost their
child whether it was suicide,
a sickness or a tragic
accident,” Hesslau said.
“One of my questions has
been ‘what can we do as a
community to support you
and what kind of way can
we find a level of purpose?’
The walk is also a way
for ForeverU to spread
awareness of local resources
to the youth and
families.
“We can create a space
and see the support I think
it is a really powerful
thing,” Hesslau said. “My
vision is to create a space
where we as a community,
whether we lost one or not,
can lean in together. That is
really the mission behind
this. It is really tough stuff.
Nowadays we need those
frequent opportunities to
lean in together.”
The walk is free, though
sign up is encouraged prior,
but can be done the day
of. Donations of $5 or $10
would also be appreciated,
but not required. When
people sign up online, or
in person, they have the
option to give the name
of the person they will be
walking for and if they are
comfortable with the name
being recognized at the
walk. It is not required to
give a name.
Hesslau said he and his
team are not sure how the
names will be recognized,
but is looking to find a
unique way to do so.
Hesslau understands the
sensitivity of the topic and
that people may be in different
stages of their grief,
but encourages people to
come out if they are up
for it, as it can be a way
to show parents who lost
a child that they are not
alone.
“We encourage them
to be part of this moving
event,” Hesslau said. “We
don’t know what is going
to happen. There might be
20 people, or there could be
hundreds. We can remind
families there are people
out there that want to help.
People need people is what
we believe. But if you think
it is too much for you just
know that there is a community
thinking of you.”
The walk will also feature
different partners including
Never Walk Alone
Recovery, Keys to Freedom
Foundation, Miller
Counseling and Associates
and more.
To be featured as an
event partner, email info@
foreverumovement.org.
Hesslau also noted that
ForeverU is not a medical
professional group, but are
able to make people feel
supported.
Another reason what
made New Lenox the perfect
spot to debut the ‘Remember
Me’ walk, which
Hesslau hopes can turn
into a annual event, is ForeverU’s
plans to open a
community empowerment
center in New Lenox.
“This walk can be a
place to bring people together
and also bring attention
to our programs for
grades 7-12 students,” he
said. “And we can ignite
a new conversation with
what our vision is to the
community.”
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