Second Annual ‘Walking With Faith’ Event Held
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Part of Saturday’s event was a lighted walk around the Amphitheater grounds to raise awareness for suicide and mental health. Photos by Andy Behlen -
The board members of the Kyla Faith Memorial organization at the start of Saturday’s walk: (front, from left) Darlene Brothers, Cassandra Butler, Kinley Tillery, Lindsey Tillery, Eric Tillery (back) Kelli Billeck, Allen Brothers, Charles Jobb, Walter Reynolds and Jessica Janacek. -
Motivational speaker and former professional basketball player Melvin Adams shows a basketball trick to Kinley Tillery.
The second annual “Walking With Faith” event by the Kyla Faith Memorial took place at the Sanford Schmid Amphitheater in La Grange Saturday night, Sept. 10. The free event included hot dogs, popcorn, kids activities and a lighted walk around the Amphitheater grounds to raise awareness for suicide and mental health.
The Kyla Faith Memorial Board of Directors each introduced themselves and spoke about their connection to Kyla Faith, the 16-year-old girl from La Grange who took her own life two and a half years ago, and others affected by suicide and depression. Kyla’s mother, Lindsey Tillery, founded the organization.
“I never realized how silent people could be in their suffering,” Tillery told the crowd on Saturday. Her husband Eric Tillery spoke about the stigma of mental health.
“People say, ‘Aw, they’re just crazy. They’ll be OK,’” he said. “We’re here to break that cycle.”
Lindsey led the crowd in a chant: “I am powerful! I am supposed to be here! I am great!”
Supporters heard from motivational speaker Melvin Adams, a former Harlem Globetrotter.
Adams spoke about the adversity he faced growing up in a poor, abusive household. Despite the odds as a 5-foot-8-inch high school basketball player, Adams managed to play college ball and went on to play professionally. He spoke about his struggles to get recruited.
But he credited his success with hard work and positive reinforcement from a few caring high school teachers and
coaches. Adams said he and several other professional athletes will return in January to speak to students at area schools. In addition, Adams announced that the Kyla Faith Memorial will sponsor a celebrity basketball game in La Grange in March. “Why La Grange? Well I think big things come in small packages,” Adams said.