SANDPOINT — As September is Suicide Awareness Month, the community will once again come together to promote suicide awareness, hope and healing during the third annual Walk for H.O.P.E. event Sunday.

"The more we talk about the subject — suicide — the more awareness there will be, and people will be more inclined to come forward and talk about it if they are struggling and seek help when they need it," said event founder Jennifer Wyman.

Wyman lost her daughter, 14-year-old Madison Wyman, to suicide in November 2015. Ten months later, the first Walk for H.O.P.E. was organized in Sandpoint by Wyman, along with family, friends and sponsors to let each individual know they are important, and that life matters and it doesn't have to end with suicide, she said. H.O.P.E. is an acronym for "Hold On Pain Ends."

The event was started for two main reasons, Wyman said — as a fundraiser to bring guest speakers into the local schools and functions that promote suicide awareness, as well as, of course, to promote suicide awareness.

"That is what I have really focused on is that it is also about bringing people together and reminding them that it is OK to not be OK," Wyman said. "... Just reminding people that suicide is out there and that it can happen to anyone, and you never know who is struggling. So bringing strangers together, for example, at our event, just gives you an opportunity to look around you, and you can interact and maybe help reach somebody who needed reached at that point."

The event is held the first Sunday of September each year in recognition of Suicide Awareness Month, though Wyman said the goal is to promote suicide awareness all year long. The nonprofit funded its first initiative in the schools last year, bringing in Big Mouth Presentations to hold assemblies at Sandpoint High School, Sandpoint Middle School, Lake Pend Oreille High School and Clark Fork High School.

This year, Walk for H.O.P.E. is funding a program for Sandpoint High School. Motivational speaker Mike Smith, of Mike Smith Live, will be broadcasted all year at SHS via YouTube videos during the morning announcements, and will visit the school in person on Dec. 5, Wyman said. Through the morning announcements, Wyman said, the students will be familiar with Smith before he visits the school.

"It's kind of cool that they will get more interaction than just one assembly," Wyman said. "We weren't able to secure him for multiple locations because of the expense of using him with the videos as well, but we will be looking for opportunities to bring speakers to the other schools as well."

Registration for the event is still open and forms can be picked up at Selkirk Glass and Cabinets, Kokanee Coffee, or online at walkforhopesandpoint.org. Participants can also register the day of the event. For those who pre-register, T-shirts will be available for pick up at Kokanee Coffee between noon and 4 p.m. on Friday. The cost is $25 for adults and $20 for youth.

The walk will begin at 5 p.m. Sunday, starting at Dog Beach at the north end of the Long Bridge. Walkers will make their way across the bridge and back.

T-shirts, bracelets and balloons will be provided to registered participants. Hamburgers, hot dogs, music and connection time will be provided after the walk as well.

"It's just a great way to come out and support your community, and be there for those who have lost somebody or those who may be struggling themselves," Wyman said.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.