PINEDALE — From Sept. 18-21, Pinedale community members took to the courts at the Pinedale Aquatic Center for Beat The Hell Out Week to show support for the Jae Foundation and bring awareness to suicide.
BTHO, which stands for Beat The Hell Out of, was created by the Jae Foundation to bring awareness to the issue of death by suicide; nearly 50,000 people die by suicide each year according to the CDC. BTHO week challenged participants to run a total of 50,000 BTHOs, formerly known as “suicides,” to bring awareness to the tragedy that impacts so many lives across the country and at home.
Sixty-three individuals, along with the members of Reclaiming Hope, Sanctuary Horses, the Jae Foundation, the Pinedale High School Wrangler football team, PAC staff and fitness class participants collectively ran 1,596 BTHOs in four days, a total collective distance of 145 miles. “I chose to run BTHO week because I love partnering with the Jae Foundation and bringing as much attention as possible to the transformational work they are doing with suicide prevention within our small town, and throughout the intermountain region and beyond. I’ve both experienced and seen the power of Jae’s story in the lives of so many I am surrounded by and I know lives are being saved as we link up together and create a culture of boot check moments. How could I not run?!” Kayleigh Hofer, Reclaiming Hope executive director said about why she chose to BTHO of those four days. The community members of Pinedale ran alongside the Jae Foundation community in Twin Falls, and the challenge was met! Participants ran 50,000 BTHOs, totaling 4,545.5 miles! This awareness campaign serves to shed some light on a subject that has long lived in the dark. The stigma surrounding mental health, and the care needed to adequately treat it, has been a factor in why so many people suffer alone and in silence.

BTHO week is one of many ways that the Jae Foundation is trying to remove the stigma and bring a healthy outlook to seeking care for mental health issues.
According to mhanational.org, 43.3 percent of the Wyoming state population suffered from suicidal ideation in 2023, and 42.5 percent suffered from depression.

During a recent memorial held Sept. 18 in Marbleton a remembrance place was set aside for the 49 Sublette County residents who have died by suicide in the last two decades.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, Reclaiming Hope and the Jae Foundation want you to know that you are not alone. There are people in Sublette County who want to come alongside you and help in your journey.
Reach out to Reclaiming Hope at 307-264-0277 or the Jae Foundation at 208-825-2464 and, together, we can Beat The Hell Out of suicide.