The eighth-annual Hope 2 Help Suicide Awareness Event and Walk is planned from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the downtown parking lot across from the Dickinson County Library on Iron Mountain Street. Here, Great Lakes Recovery Centers Prevention Services Ben Ryan gets prize donations ready for the event. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — The community is invited to the eighth-annual Hope 2 Help Suicide Awareness Event and Walk on Sunday.

The event, which is hosted by Dickinson-Iron Communities That Care, will run from 1 to 5 p.m. at the downtown parking lot across from the Dickinson County Library on Iron Mountain Street.

Each year, the free event is planned to spread awareness for suicide and help end the stigma of dealing with mental health issues, said Ben Ryan, Great Lakes Recovery Centers Prevention Services.

Community resources will be represented to provide information on services that are offered. In addition to Great Lakes Recovery Center and its Foster Care Support, in attendance will be the Dickinson-Iron Health Department, Northpointe Behavioral Healthcare System, Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson, Willow Creek, VA Medical Center, Salvation Army, Operation Life Saver, Forever Friendship, The Cure, SNAAP, 4-H and Kenneth James Salon.

Participants can register and purchase drawing tickets for many of the donated items starting at 1 p.m.

A silent auction will also take place for items, including a Green Bay Packers football, Michigan State University basketball, fire pit ring, and weed trimmer. Bidders do need to be present to win.

Guest speakers for the 2025 event are the Rev. Irene White and Scott Celello. The presentations will begin at 2 p.m.

The walk steps off at 2:30 p.m. They will begin on Iron Mountain Street, go right on Hughitt to VanBuren, then down A Street to the stage area.

“Those unable to do the walk are invited to a ‘virtual walk’ at the Dickinson County Library,” Ryan said.

Crystal Hogan and Dawn Kranz will be playing throughout the afternoon.

They will also have kids activities including face painting and a bounce house.

Sugar Jets food truck and other vendors will be on site.

The prize drawings will begin after the walk at about 3:30 p.m.

Communities That Care will again sell suicide awareness T-shirts the day of the event.

Ryan said they expect to bring the Trees of Hope to the event.

Everyone is encouraged to come and enjoy the day. “It’s a time for families to heal and build hope,” Ryan said.

Those unable to attend who would like to make a donation can send checks to Great Lakes Recovery Center, 1115 S. Hemlock St., Iron Mountain, MI 49801.

Those who are struggling with issues can call Great Lake Recovery Center directly 906-458-2627 or text 1-800-35NEEDS, which is a 24-hour local outreach program.