Hiking for Brady
Susan and Tracy are my very good friends. We traveled together to run marathons, chaperoned our sons’ church youth groups, and grieved through the deaths of parents. Our sons went to the same high school and college; we shared all of life’s ecstasies and agonies. One event that should never have happened, though, was the funeral for their 30-years-young son, Brady, because of a drug overdose.
The small church where the funeral was held was literally overflowing with friends young and old, all gathered to say goodbye. Brady’s friends made heartfelt public pleas to their peers about the dangers of addictive substances. Tracy courageously and tearfully shared his thoughts as to “did we do too much for Brady? or not enough.” Words surely echoed by many that have lost loved ones to the disease of substance use disorder. Do these words sound familiar to you or someone you know?
Brady fought the disease a long time. But the disease ultimately took his life. I realized during the funeral service that this same sad ceremony is being played out thousands and thousands of times all across the country, affecting countless families and communities. The heartwrenching phone call delivering the bad news, the hasty travel arrangements, life quickly put on hold to help a friend grieve, the absence felt of one gone from work, play or school. The total devastation put upon the families by this tragic event is just overpowering. Drug overdose has now overtaken vehicle crashes in the number of fatalities caused per year. A deadly number that needs to come down.
Tracy and I ran together in many marathons, triathlons, half-marathons, and 5K races over the years (he is easily the better runner!) And we raised funds for other charities along the way. After Brady’s death, Tracy ran in the Shatterproof Rise Up Against Addiction 5K to bring in much-needed dollars. So when I decided to do a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail it was only natural and fitting that I hike it to raise funds in Brady’s memory.
The hike is long—over 2,000 miles—and will take about six months to complete. I plan to hike the entire trail, becoming one of the 25% of people who attempt this hike who actually complete it. If life happens while the plan unfolds, I can just step off the trail and go home. The sons, daughters, wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, moms, dads, friends and co-workers suffering from substance use disorders cannot so easily just step off the trail. They need the help that Shatterproof is working to provide.
Steve Leker is a retired franchise development manager and training director for a national wildlife company. He has run marathons and triathlons, including a full Ironman. He has also coached amateur marathon teams taking folks from the couch to the finish line. He and his wife live in Florida and enjoy traveling in their RV across the country.
