LAKE CHARLES, Louisiana (KPLC) – “Helping push back the darkness” is one of the values the Bryce River Foundation was built on.
Yesterday they held their first ever Ride for Tomorrow event to encourage people and carry on the legacy of those who have died by suicide.
Every year, thousands of people around the world commit suicide. Last May, the statistics hit Scott Waldrop and his family even harder.
“In May 2023, my son River committed suicide, and earlier this year my wife and I were thinking about how to deal with our grief,” Waldrop said.
They decided to invest their grief and sorrow in something that could help other families.
This is how the Bryce River Foundation was founded.
“We started meeting with agencies and professionals and talking about the work they’re doing here in the area, and we realized that Lake Charles actually has a really good support system for mental health, behavioral health and suicide prevention. But these agencies just need more resources to be able to cast a wider net and do more good work,” Waldrop said.
They hosted their very first Ride for Tomorrow.
The event invited cyclists and activists from across Southwest Louisiana to participate in an important initiative to promote community support and improve mental health and overall well-being.
“When all those bikes gather under the banner with River’s name on it, he loved bikes, he had a bike tattoo, and he loved working on bikes and riding bikes. It was one of his coping mechanisms. He would just get on his bike, clear his head and try to catch his breath and express his anxiety in a healthy way,” Waldrop said.
September is Suicide Prevention Month
The foundation aims to raise awareness by placing blue and purple commemorative ribbons throughout southwest Louisiana.
“We want to remember the loved ones who died by suicide. We don’t want to forget them and their importance to this community. We want to encourage the families who have suffered these losses. Third, we want to start these conversations. Suicide is a taboo subject that makes people uncomfortable because they often just don’t know what to say.” “We hope that these tapes will start conversations about a topic that people most likely wouldn’t have talked about,” Waldrop said.
Each year there are over 700 deaths by suicide in Louisiana.
It is the third leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34.
Waldrop hopes that what he went through can help others who may find themselves in a similar situation.
“We believe that all deaths by suicide are preventable, and if you believe there is no hope for you, then you have believed a lie. And I want to encourage you to dig deep and find the hope that is available to you,” Waldrop said.
Waldrop reminds us that you are never alone, no matter how lonely you feel at the moment.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 or text
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