By Christopher Boyd

It starts with one step.
A quiet shuffle along Glenwood Avenue, early in the morning.
A deep breath of crisp air.
A gentle smile exchanged between friends, families, and strangers.
At first, it may feel small.

But together, these steps send ripples—across families, across communities, and across hearts. Movement is more than motion. It’s how we process pain, release anxiety, and reconnect—with our bodies, with nature, and with one another. Walking can feel ordinary. But in the right moment, in the right company, it becomes something more. It becomes healing. It becomes hope. At the Thad and Alice Eure Walk for Hope, each step carries meaning. We walk to raise critical funds for mental illness research, to bring mental health into focus, and to remind one another that we are not standing still.

Why Movement Matters

Movement is one of the most accessible tools we have for supporting mental health. It doesn’t require a prescription or a gym. It begins with something as simple as putting one foot in front of the other.

Research shows that walking can reduce anxiety and depression, improve sleep, boost clarity, and promote resilience. But movement’s power goes beyond biology. When we move, especially during hard times, we affirm that we’re still going. Even slowly, we’re making progress.

Walking invites presence. No screens, no deadlines, just the rhythm of our breath and the world around us. These moments ground us. And when we walk together, we connect to something larger. We become part of a shared expression of hope and momentum.

That’s why the Walk for Hope resonates. It’s not just an event. It’s an invitation to move forward—together.

A Living Example

For 37 years, the Walk for Hope has brought thousands of people together with a shared purpose: take a step toward conquering mental illness.

Walkers gather at the iconic Angus Barn, then head up Glenwood Avenue and into Umstead State Park. The route, usually busy with traffic, becomes a path of peace. Under the forest canopy, walkers breathe deeply, reflect, and reconnect. For those seeking a shorter route, a one-mile nature trail loops around the serene lake on the Angus Barn property.

Whether winding through the woods or circling the water, every step becomes a reminder that healing isn’t always linear—but it begins with motion.

After the walk, the celebration continues with a lively festival featuring food, music, and activities that bring the community together. Participants don’t just walk for hope, they live it. Funds raised directly support cutting-edge mental illness research. Like a step in still water, the impact ripples far beyond what we can see.

The Ripple in Action

Each step taken, donation made, or story shared becomes part of a greater current. A registration might spark a conversation. A walk in memory of a loved one might inspire someone to open up. A post online might encourage a friend to seek help.

The Walk for Hope reminds us: we don’t need to fix everything. Sometimes, we just need to take the next step. Over the years, walkers have shared how that single morning stayed with them long after the path ended. Conversations, clarity, and connection followed. These are the ripples that matter.

And the impact isn’t just personal, it’s scientific. Grants from the Foundation of Hope have fueled groundbreaking research like that of Dr. Flavio Frohlich and the team at UNC’s Carolina Center for Neurostimulation. What began as a theory about restoring brain circuits has evolved into promising clinical trials for treating schizophrenia, depression, and chronic pain. That research has since launched a successful startup, Pulvinar Neuro, which is working to bring noninvasive brain stimulation into real-world treatment for mental illness.

This is the ripple effect in motion: a single step, a shared cause, and research that changes lives.

Join the Movement

On Walk day, something shifts. The energy is joyful, but the purpose is deep. Mental illness affects nearly every family. Yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and underfunded areas of care. The Walk for Hope exists to change that.

Whether you walk the full route or the lakeside trail, show up for a loved one or for yourself—your presence matters. Each step, each moment, adds to the momentum.

So come walk with us. Help us create a ripple that reaches further than any one of us could go alone. Our path is paved with hope. The next step is yours.

Join us on Sunday, October 12 at the Angus Barn for the 37th Walk for Hope – sign up at walkforhope.com now!