SIOUX FALLS, SD. (KELO) — The 437 Project gets underway this week. It’s a 437-mile run across South Dakota from border to border to raise money and awareness about suicide.
KELOLAND’s Dan Santella is going to be one of 12 runners completing the journey to help raise money for the Helpline Center.
But Santella will be wearing something special along the way to honor those who have died by suicide.
“Every family is impacted in some way or another by a loved one struggling with mental illness,” Santella said.
This is the third year for the 437 Project. But it’ll be the first time KELOLAND’s Dan Santella has run in it.
Last year while reporting on the event, he met runner, Benson Langat, who wore a t-shirt bearing the names of suicide victims.
“I thought this year it would be really cool to honor people who lost their lives to suicide in a similar way,” Santella said.
Instead of a t-shirt, though, Santella will be wearing five different headbands with 24 names on each one throughout his five-leg journey across the state.
“Just to honor for example I’ll just take a headband right here William, I don’t know William but I know he mattered to people and to honor him this is for you William,” Santella said.
Santella, who is an avid runner, says although it’ll be difficult at times, he’s ready to do his part to raise awareness about mental illness.
He says looking at all the names on his headbands and meeting some of their families has been a humbling experience.
“Journalistically I’ve found in recent weeks in doing different stories with families about having lost a loved one to suicide they are super eager to talk about these losses it’s therapeutic for them,” Santella said. “I think the biggest message if we can summarize it into one sentence is there is help out there.”
The runners will start on Thursday morning at the Wyoming border near Belle Fourche and wind up at the Iowa border on Sunday followed by a special event in Sioux Falls.
