WELLS, Maine – The second annual motorcycle and Jeep ride organized by Stay; For Life, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness for men’s mental health and suicide prevention, took place on Saturday.
The event began at 10:30 a.m. with participants departing from Trailblazers Family Club in Wells for a scenic drive through Maine, concluding at the Iron Tail Saloon in Acton.
The post-ride gathering at the Iron Tail Saloon featured food, music, and raffles to raise funds. Additionally, mental health resources were available for attendees.
Angela Whitten, a co-founder of Stay; For Life, established the nonprofit after her son Trent tragically died by suicide two years ago.
“My world was completely shattered; I was a single mom to two boys for a long, long time. My two boys are absolutely the center of my world… so losing one of them completely rocked me,” Whitten shared.
Whitten described how her grief turned into a drive to make a difference. “When I stood up, I stood up swinging.”
Stay; For Life now connects men with mental health resources both in person and online. The organization aims to normalize conversations about suicide and has also initiated a man-to-man support group.
“It makes me very proud, and it gives me an outlet for my grief,” Whitten said. She explained that this work helps her carry the memory of her son Trent forward.
“People say, I don’t know how you do this, and I say well if I didn’t do this, I would be certifiably crazy. So, it gives me something to do, and that’s how I’m grieving Trent. It gives me something to do with his death; it helps me to move him forward and bring him in all this work we do,” she added.
If you or someone you know needs help, resources are available. The suicide and crisis lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988, available 24/7.
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