Second Wind Fund’s annual Walk/Run is back for its 24th year on September 21st at Clement Park.
Join our new Executive Director, Gabriel Guillaume, as he reflects on the roots of this powerful tradition, the movement that drives our mission forward, and the hope we continue to build – together.

 

Friends,

Just two months ago, I had the honor of becoming the new Executive Director of Second Wind Fund (SWF). Stepping into leadership at an organization with a 23-year legacy calls for humility, curiosity, and deep respect for its roots. Because SWF is not just a nonprofit—it’s a movement.

This movement was born out of profound grief and an urgent call to action. When Green Mountain High School lost four students to suicide in a single school year, the community, families, educators, students, faith leaders, elected officials, and more, came together, united in sadness, fear, and outrage. But what emerged from that tragedy was not just mourning, it was momentum. The collective pain was channeled into something rare and powerful: sustained action to prevent future loss. That action became Second Wind Fund.

Since its founding, SWF has provided more than 70,000 therapy sessions to over 9,000 youth across nearly every county in Colorado. But numbers alone don’t capture what makes this work so meaningful. What has moved me most in these early months is the deep and ongoing commitment I’ve witnessed. Dozens of families, past and present board members, volunteers, donors, and Green Mountain High School alumni remain passionately involved. They stay connected because they’ve experienced profound loss, and because they want to ensure that others don’t have to.

For so many I’ve met, SWF is more than an organization. It’s a reminder that while time doesn’t always heal, action often does. That helping others can ease the helplessness that follows suicide. That hope, when nurtured, can become a force for change.

In the past two years, SWF has experienced a significant rise in therapy requests, from youth-serving organizations, families, and young people themselves. It would be easy to interpret this growth as a sign that more youth are suffering. And while the mental health challenges are real, we’re also seeing something hopeful: a growing recognition that therapy can be life-changing, and a broader understanding of the need to remove financial and social barriers to care.

At the core of SWF’s mission, and the movement that gave rise to it, is a powerful transformation: turning grief into purpose, and purpose into lasting impact. Nothing embodies this mission more clearly than SWF’s Annual Walk/Run.

What began as a grassroots effort has grown into a cherished tradition. The Walk/Run was the very first act of community solidarity, bringing hundreds together to champion the mental well-being of youth. Over the years, it has become much more than a walk or run—it’s a place to mourn, to celebrate, and to connect with families and partners from across the state.

Now in its 24th year, this meaningful tradition continues. We invite you to join us on September 21st at Clement Park for a day of remembrance, hope, and unity. Even more, we hope you’ll invite friends and loved ones to be part of this growing and powerful movement.

To learn more and register, please visit: https://raceroster.com/events/2025/107657/24th-annual-second-wind-fund-walkrun-5k

If we haven’t yet met, I look forward to meeting you there—and to finally being part of this legacy event.

Gabriel Guillaume
Executive Director