Miller NE resident Paul Gonzalez, suicide survivor, had the idea of doing a 24-hour run to create awareness around suicide prevention. “I don’t want others to feel what I have felt. I want everyone to be able to find peace with themselves. I have been able to find peace through running,” Gonzalez said.

In 2018, Gonzalez lost a friend to suicide. “It was really tough on me. I struggled with addiction in order to help cope,” Gonzalez said. He struggled daily and tells his story of attempts of suicide. He had fallen into a depression when he heard David Goggin’s story. Goggin is a ultra-marathon runner. “I listened to his audio book and he almost became my mentor.”

Telling of his deep depression, spending most days asleep or just in bed, he found strengthen day by day by getting active again. “You have to start with one step. I realized that if I moved 1% more than I was doing, first just sitting up and then next sitting up and watching TV, I was doing better than I was before. I went from laying down then sitting up, to going on a walk for a few minutes. Before I knew it I was running miles,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez says he wants to help others with depression by telling his story and running to raise funds for awareness and other prevention and postvention activities. Even if he helps just one person he said the run would be worth it. Gonzalez’s journey started slowly from pulling himself out of depression until he started running 20 miles a day. He said he noticed that others need help and this run is his way of reaching people with his story. “I used to think that sharing my story was a weakness. I thought I wasn’t supposed to talk about my problems in life because I am a male. But, I have found that true strength comes from being able to express yourself,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez contacted Todd with McKenna's Rae of Hope Foundation and posed the idea of a run to support suicide prevention/awareness. Miles that Matter was born. Gonzalez will start running at 6 pm on September 9^th ending his run at 6 pm, September 10 with a celebration reception at Yanney Park as Gonzalez crosses the finish line. The Hope and Healing Partnership: McKenna’s Rae of Hope, Central Nebraska LOSS Team, and BCCP Suicide Prevention Coalition will be hosting the celebration. Gonzalez has selected these partners to receive funds of the fundraiser to prevent suicide in Buffalo County.

Donations will go towards suicide awareness, prevention, and postvention activities: teaching children how to identify their emotions, providing lockboxes and gunlocks to reduce means to harm, providing counseling sessions to youth in need, and public trainings to assist our communities in recognizing the signs of suicide.

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, text START to 741741 or call 1-800-273-8255.

Hope and Healing: a prevention, postvention partnership between McKenna’s Rae of Hope Foundation, the Central Nebraska LOSS Team, and Buffalo County Community Partners’ Suicide Prevention Coalition are focused on reducing suicide in our community by building resilience, generating awareness and providing support.

Miles that Matter

A 24 Hour Fundraiser to Prevent Suicide featuring Paul Gonzalez