The annual mental health awareness walk will take place May 16 at 5 p.m. in Thayne, returning in honor of organizer Cassie Clinger, who was tragically killed earlier this year. The upcoming event aims to raise awareness of mental health struggles in the community while continuing Clinger’s efforts to reduce stigma and encourage open conversations about mental health.

Those who struggle with mental health, or support loved ones who do, understand the many factors that can contribute to those challenges.

Cassie was open about her struggles with depression and bipolar disorder, along with challenges shaped by her life experiences.

“This would have been her fourth year,” said Cynthia Clinger, Cassie’s mother. “But, since she’s not here, I’m gonna carry on her event.”

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Cassie worked to encourage open conversations about mental health and to break stigma surrounding it.

“And how to let people know that they’re not abnormal for struggling,” Cynthia said. “That it’s becoming more and more of a normal thing and try to break that stigma around mental health and being okay to talk about it openly.”

That mission is something Cynthia is committed to continuing.

“Her voice has reached a lot of people,” Cynthia said. “I can’t let that die.”

Cynthia shared that many members of her family continue to struggle with depression and other mental health conditions and that it’s important that others know they don’t have to face that alone. They have support and resources that can help them.

In-person participants will meet at the pavilion near  Thayne Elementary School and follow a short route through nearby streets before returning to the park. Light refreshments will be provided. Organizers are also incorporating purple ribbons this year to help bring awareness to domestic violence in connection with Cassie’s story.

“This is just a way for like-minded people to come. Maybe they’re struggling on their own, or maybe they want to know how they can help somebody that they know that’s struggling,” she said.

Those who are not coming in-person are encouraged to document something they do that day to help focus on mental health, then share it on the Facebook page “We Are Not Alone.”

Cynthia shared that Cassie’s goal was to get to 1,000 followers on the page. It has now reached more than 2,300 as of the publishing time of this article. A statement on the page for the event said, “Cassie Clinger was a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. She bravely shared her own story to help us and others feel less alone. Her life was tragically taken in an act of domestic violence.

“This walk honors Cassie by continuing the work she cared deeply about-raising awareness for mental health and shining a light on domestic violence.”