Recognizing gaps in help for Wyoming residents who suffer from mental health issues, a group calling themselves “Vital Signs” began the Beck Lake Challenge 15 years ago. They wanted to give folks looking for support a venue for needed information and to raise much needed funds, but mostly to simply offer an opportunity to walk and talk.

Fast forward more than a dozen years and the event has been transformed into the Cody Medical Foundation’s annual Mental Health Run and Walk, promoting understanding and acceptance of mental illness and increased mental health wellness. One thing hasn’t changed in the history of the event: There is still a lot of work to do to get the help needed to those experiencing mental health crises.

“We started it because we were frustrated with the lack of services for the mentally ill in Wyoming,” said Marty Coe, the foundation’s executive secretary since 1988. “Frankly, I don’t think they’ve gotten much better, particularly with people that are severely and persistently mentally ill.”

Over time organizers want to transform the event into one with broader appeal — something that would draw in more youth. So the foundation looked to two advocates for those afflicted with mental health issues in Park County, Healthy Park County Executive Director Shabnam Khan and Jaqueline Fales, director of the Park County Court Supervised Treatment Program and founder of Active in Recovery.

Healthy Park County offers a variety of connections to training and resources for suicide prevention, substance use and mental health. Khan has a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from the University of Wyoming and extensive experience in hospitality, business management and customer service, bringing a unique blend of skills to her work.

Fales was facing opioid addiction issues after breaking her back in an accident and wound up in the court supervised treatment program before ascending to become its director. The program provides court supervised substance abuse counseling, supervised probation and case management services to qualified participants in Park County. In 2023, Fales founded Active in Recovery, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between those struggling with addiction and the life-changing resources that support healing.

Coe reached out to the women wanting to work together to expand awareness around the popular event, Khan recalled.

“We started collaborating together and — this is the first year of expansion — our goal is to each year continue to build [the event],” Khan said. “It’s about community, it’s about coming together, it’s about recognizing all these organizations that want to support mental health.”

Fales jumped onboard immediately, wanting to continue to serve her community.

“The Cody Medical Foundation has done so much, not only for the community, but also has supported the Park County Court Supervised Treatment Program so much that I wanted to be able to help out and give back to them and our community,” Fales said.

However, no amount of enthusiasm can control the weather, and the 5:30 a.m. sunrise walk started with low temperatures, requiring participants to meet the additional challenge of digging out their warm blankets, winter coats and mittens.

“Of course, it’s the coldest day of the month,” Khan said. “But that’s OK. We’re here for the cold and rainy days, too. Mental health doesn’t stop when the weather turns bad.”

Fales wasn’t worried about a little precipitation.

“People from Wyoming are pretty hardy, so I don’t think it’s really going to deter them,” she said.

One of the events the duo hoped would bring more young people to join in the fun was a trail run in the foothills south of Beck and Markham Lakes. But upon inspection Friday, the trail was deemed unsafe for a large group of runners and the race was canceled.

Still, supporters and those seeking information flocked to the event, some in rain coats and carrying umbrellas. Those arriving early got a head-start on the non-timed section of the event, giving them a chance to grab the provided breakfast before a line started. They also could learn more about care programs from across the Basin with few interruptions.

There may have been fewer in attendance than was hoped, but the organizers were still thrilled with the results.

“This event is not about raising money, it’s really just about raising awareness,” Khan said.

Coe said she wasn’t worried about drawing a big crowd as long as they were available to possibly save a life.

“There’s quite a few people in Park County that have died from mental illness, and so we thought, well, if we could just help one or two people by giving them a venue so they can walk and talk with friends that have gone through the same thing,” she said.

And for those blustery and unpleasant days, the Cody Medical Foundation has collaborated with Park County Library to provide an expanded reading room and a telehealth booth to help those in need find important information. The foundation also partnered with the Coe family to help build a shelter on the banks of Markham Reservoir so that passersby — including those taking long walks to help find answers — have shelter from adverse conditions that may otherwise keep them on the sidelines of life.