Teton high students continue to ‘Walk for LYFE’ - East Idaho News
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Teton high students continue to ‘Walk for LYFE’

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DRIGGS — Students from Teton High School have held a march against suicide for nearly a decade. For much of that time the event has been called the “Walk for LYFE.”

LYFE stands for “Love Yourself Forever” and is a slogan that was created by the students themselves.

“We want them to take ownership of it and for it to portray a really positive message of choosing to live,” said Executive Director of the Suicide Prevention Action Network of Teton Valley Myra Kerr.

The students held signs detailing what gives each of them the strength to get through life. Those “positive forward moving messages,” Kerr said are part of the success the community has accomplished in recent years.

This year, she said, marks four years in Teton Valley since a teen has died by suicide.

One of the most important actions that people across the valley can do, Kerr said, is to save the Idaho Suicide Prevention Lifeline into their smartphones.

The number, 1-800-273-8255, connects the caller to a trained person any hour of the day or night. Kerr said the number is not just for emergencies and can be called to ask questions or just to talk about a particularly rough time in life.

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Students walk for “LYFE” in downtown Driggs. The ant-suicide walk has been going on for nearly a decade.| Scott Stutz, Teton Valley News

As students marched in this year’s “Walk for LYFE” they wore shirts emblazoned with the word, “LYFE.” The art on the shirt was created by a parent of one of the students in the school’s VOICE class.

The VOICE class is described by Teton High School as “a group of caring individuals, who share the common goal of making the school, and valley a better place. It is a class meant to help others succeed, and help others in times of need.”

The art was then taken by Shawn Voigt at High Range Designs and converted into a form that could be printed on a shirt.

The printing service and shirts were all donated to the school by Hondo Miller and High Range Designs.

Superintendent Monte Woolstenhulme, who is also president of the state-wide SPAN board, said that getting help from those in the community, such as businesses, is key.

“The community partners we have are what is making a difference to reduce suicides and raise awareness for students, parents and community members,” he said.

This article was originally published in the Teton Valley News. It is used here with permission.

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