BOZEMAN — The Bozeman community is coming together to raise awareness about mental health through the inaugural Landon’s Light Memorial Mountain Bike Race, organized by the Hull family in honor of their son, Landon Hull, who tragically passed away in 2022.
Landon Hull was deeply passionate about biking from a young age, participating in BMX and various cycling activities throughout his life. His parents, Andrew and Kimmelin Hull, recall his love for anything with two wheels and his early immersion in the biking world.
According to Landon’s father, Andrew Hull, “He was on a bike from about as old as you could sit on a seat. He did BMX and basically anything with two wheels.”
When Landon faced mental health challenges, the Hull family experienced firsthand the difficulties of accessing mental health services in Bozeman. This led them to realize the widespread issue of limited mental healthcare resources in their community.
Landon’s mother, Kimmelin Hull, explains, “Pretty soon after losing him we realized that the lack of mental healthcare resources here in Bozeman was an issue, not just for our family, but for many other families. And we wanted to be a solution.”
Honoring Landon’s Legacy and Supporting Mental Health
In memory of Landon and to address Montana’s mental health challenges, the Hulls established the Landon Hull Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship supports students pursuing careers in the mental health field. Proceeds from the Landon’s Light race will contribute entirely to this scholarship fund, with the first recipients being two Montana students this year.
The race itself offers various lengths to accommodate participants of all abilities and interests, ranging from four to twelve miles. The course includes sections through GVLT’s new Wellness Trail, located near the Help Center Inc’s new mental health campus in Bozeman, enhancing the race’s significance in promoting mental health awareness and resources.
Andrew Hull invites everyone to join the event, stating, “The length of it is going to be four, eight, and twelve miles. So, we think we have a great length for anyone who wants to come out just for fun and do one lap of our course—which is four miles—all the way up to three laps.”
Community Engagement and Support
Emphasizing the importance of community involvement in mental health advocacy, Kimmelin Hull underscores the complexity of individuals and the importance of supporting one another. She shares, “I think it’s important to understand that people are complicated, and Landon had so much light in him even though he also struggled with some darkness. And this event is about sharing his light. And letting people know that it’s possible to have light even in the midst of darkness. And as a community we can help each other find our light again and we can share our light with each other.”
The race promises not just competition but also community spirit, with prizes for racing, themed costumes, and encouragement from spectators—an opportunity to unite in support of mental health awareness and resilience.
Conclusion
The Landon’s Light Memorial Mountain Bike Race stands as a beacon of hope and solidarity in Bozeman, honoring Landon Hull’s memory and advocating for improved mental health resources. It embodies the Hull family’s commitment to fostering awareness, support, and community-driven solutions to mental health challenges in Montana.
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