Our Story

During the 2001-2002 school year, four students at Green Mountain High School (GMHS) in Jefferson County, Colorado, died by suicide in a nine-month time frame. The community was profoundly affected

In response to these four suicides, three members of GMPC (Fletcher, Lamontagne and Laird) held a smal WRR to show solidarity with the school. The Second Wind Fund was initiated by Green Mountain Presbyterian Church (GMPC) in September 2002 following these four suicides. On September 8, 2002, GMPC held a small walk/run in association with its annual church summer picnic. A few members planned the event over a short period of time, and the event was not publicized except for a few neighborhood flyers. Most of the 66 people that participated were GMPC members, or their friends. Still, due to the generosity of GMPC participants and those who gave them pledges, enough money was raised to be of help to GMHS students. We just didn't know how it would be used at that point!

After GMPC members met with high school counselors to determine how to best use the funds, SWF was made available to GMHS and its feeder schools in December 2002. After a few referrals were made, SWF began receiving calls from other schools requesting use of the fund. Due to the additional need for the fund, SWF was extended to Lakewood, Bear Creek, and Alameda High School students, as well as their feeder schools, in April and May 2003.

To learn more about the annual walk/run/ride that has continued to grow every year since its inception, visit the Events page.

Because of the growing demand for the program, as well as the increasing number of people coming forward with offers to help, GMPC volunteers decided to redouble their efforts in an effort to make the event larger in 2003.