Join the community this Saturday to walk ‘Circles of Love’ and remember teen lost to suicide

IDAHO FALLS — A nonprofit organization is inviting the community to walk and run in memory of a teenager who passed away too soon.

A free event hosted by Idaho Falls Trail Runners, a nonprofit, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Freeman Park in Idaho Falls from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Click here for more information.

The event

It’s called ‘Circles of Love,’ and it will be an 8-hour memorial run/walk fundraiser to remember local 17-year-old Tristan McKnight and help raise funds for his family during this challenging time.

“That’s the idea of Circles of Love: people coming together. Every lap represents a memento, a dedication of love and support for the family,” said Jeff Fullmer, president of the nonprofit.

The route is 1.2 miles. Participants are welcome to come at any time and can run or walk for as long as they want.

About Tristan McKnight

Tristan, 17, passed away on Sept. 20 from suicide. He had plans for his future. He was getting ready to be sworn into the U.S. Navy soon.

“I think I am still in denial. I feel like he is just going to be there, like he’s just coming back off of a trip or he just went to go visit some friends or he’s at work. I was preparing for him to leave for the Navy anyway, but it just doesn’t feel real that he is gone,” said Becky McKnight, Tristan’s mother.

Tristan was the oldest of six. He grew up in Minnesota, Utah, Texas, and Idaho. He was an “army brat,” his mom said, and had moved around a lot due to his father’s service in the U.S. Army. Tristan ran cross-country, participated in track and field, and played the upright bass and bass guitar in the orchestra and jazz band. 

He also loved his car, a 1984 Pontiac. He was restoring it.

Tristan finished high school early and earned his GED at the age of 16. He worked full-time as a technician for Fybercom and enjoyed his job.

“We were super proud of him,” Becky said. “He was always a leader, accepting, kind, and helpful. He would help so many people through hard times. He was an amazing young man.”

Click here to read Tristan’s obituary.

Awareness

After Tristan’s death, Becky said she and her husband had learned that someone had sold their son a firearm without their knowledge.

On top of suicide awareness, there is firearm awareness, she explained.

“My concern is that these underage kids can buy firearms and they can either use them for suicide or school shootings, or anything. No one is checking ID. If you walk into a store, you have to register and go through a background check but if you are just buying it off the street, you don’t have to do any of that. It’s a huge concern. I want to bring awareness to that,” Becky said.

She told EastIdahoNews.com that her son had shown signs of suicide during high school. They had gotten therapy to help him.

Becky added that Tristan had been bullied and he received text messages at one point.

“I really wish kids would stop saying things like, ‘You should kill yourself’ or ‘You didn’t try hard enough to kill yourself,'” she said. “It’s just so disheartening that kids will say this to other kids and they don’t even think.”

Friends and community coming together

Organizers who are trail running friends with Becky, like Ashlee Drake and Ashley Baird, invite the community this Saturday to remember Tristan and those who have passed too soon.

“We just wanted to come together. Anytime we can pull together and support each other, it’s helping at least one person,” Baird said. “We just love Becky and we wanted to support her.”

Click to donate here.

“We are here for them and they are not alone,” Drake added. “If we can help raise money for funeral expenses or for some family counseling or anything like that, that would be great.”

Becky said she is thankful and feels honored to have so much love shown towards her and her family.

“I feel so fortunate to have such beautiful friends who are so willing to help even outside of the trails and outside of a race. Everyone comes together when people need help. They are always there. They are always willing to help,” Becky said.