MANTENO – The 3rd annual “Walk the Walk” for Mental and Suicide Awareness will be held this Saturday, September 3rd in Manteno.
Jake Smith, who has organized the annual walk spanning 24 miles yearly since 2020, says it all started with his personal struggle.
“My personal inspiration behind starting this walk stems from personal struggles of my own with mental health and suicidal thoughts,” Smith said in an interview Sunday. “Knowing that sharing my story has made a positive impact in other people’s lives who struggle as well has motivated me to do more to help spread awareness and be the change that I want surrounding mental health and suicide awareness/prevention.”
This year’s walk will take just over eight hours to complete and will feature a number of participants planning to walk the full length with some just joining for a stretch to show support for Mental Health. Although Smith is unsure the exact number of participants joining for this year’s event.
“A handful of people are interested in walking the entire 24 miles with me.” Smith explained. “A few of the participants might have friends and/or family members that they will bring with them to walk.”
While Smith is not currently working towards actively pushing fundraising efforts for the walk, he says there are ways people who cannot join can show their support.
“Charities that I would like to direct donations to would be the Sam Myers Foundation, as well as Project Headspace & Timing.” Smith said.
If you’re interested in joining the third annual, you can join the Facebook event page, connect with Jake directly, or join the walk as it progresses through Manteno Saturday.
“Walk the Walk” Route:
Diversatech Drive to Bramble Street (right turn)
Bramble Street to Mulberry Street (right turn) –
Mulberry Street to Pine Drive/Boudreau Road (right turn) – (mile 1 @ Pine/Boudreau & Redwood/8000N Road)
Pine Drive/Boudreau Road to 9000N Road/3rd Street (left turn) – (mile 2 @ Boudreau Road & 9000N)
9000N Road to Sycamore Road (right turn)
Sycamore Road to Reiter Road (right turn)
Reiter Road to Rock Creek Drive (left turn)
Rock Creek Drive to Granite Drive (straight) (mile 3 @ Rock Creek Drive)
Granite Drive to Sycamore Road (right turn)
Sycamore Road to 10000N Road (left turn) (mile 4 @ 10000N & route 50)
10000N Road to 1000E Road (left turn) (mile 5 @ 10000N Road & 1000E Road)
1000E Road to Eagles Landing Drive North (right turn) (mile 6 @ 1000E Road & Eagles Landing Drive North)
Eagles Landing Drive North to Talon Drive (left turn)
Talon Drive to Cardinal Drive (right turn)
Cardinal Drive to Lester Drive (left turn)
Lester Drive to Raven Drive (right turn) (mile 7 on Raven Drive)
Raven Drive to Eagles Landing Drive (right turn)
Eagles Landing Drive to White Hawk Way (straight)
White Hawk Way to Eagles Landing Drive (right turn)
Eagles Landing Drive to 9000N Road (left turn)
9000N Road to 1000E Road (left turn) (mile 8 @ 9000N @ 1000E)
1000E Road to 10000N Road (right turn) (mile 9 @ 1000E & 10000N)
10000N Road to Beauchamp Avenue (right turn)
Beauchamp Avenue to Shamrock Lane (right turn) (mile 10 @ Beauchamp & Shamrock)
Shamrock Lane to Malloy Street (left turn)
Malloy Street to Beauchamp Avenue (right turn)
Beauchamp Avenue to Water Tower North (right turn)
Water Tower North to Water Tower South (straight) (mile 11 @ Water Tower South)
Water Tower South to North Maple Street (right turn)
North Maple Street to West Division Street (right turn)
West Division Street to South Marquette Place (left turn) (mile 12 @ Division & Marquette)
South Marquette Place to Southcreek Drive (left turn)
Southcreek Drive to West Cook Street (right turn)
West Cook Street to Southcreek Drive (left turn)
Southcreek Drive to Brian Drive (left turn) (mile 13 @ Southcreek just before Brian Drive)
Brian Drive to Kurt Drive/Jeffrey Drive (left turn)
Kurt Drive/Jeffrey Drive to South Poplar Street (right turn)
South Poplar Street to Brian Drive (right turn) (mile 14 @ Brian Drive)
Brian Drive to Barry Turn Lane (right turn)
Barry Turn Lane to Jeffrey Drive (right turn)
Jeffrey Drive to South Poplar Street (left turn)
South Poplar Street to West Adams Street (right turn) (mile 15 @ Poplar & Adams)
West Adams Street to South Walnut Street (right turn)
South Walnut Street to West Division Street (left turn)
West Division Street to 1st Street/Section Line Road (right turn)
1st Street/Section Line Road to North Maple Street (left turn)
North Maple Street to West 3rd Street (right turn) (mile 16 @ 3rd Street just after turn)
West 3rd Street to The Square On Second (right turn)
The Square On Second to West 2nd Street) (left turn)
West 2nd Street to Main Street (right turn)
Main Street to West Division Street (left turn)
West/East Division Street to East Adams Street (right turn) (mile 17)
East Adams Street to Route 50 (right turn)
Route 50 to West 3rd Street (left turn)
West 3rd Street to East Main Street (right turn)
East Main Street to West 5th Street (left turn)
West 5th Street to Walnut Street (straight)
Walnut Street to West 5th Street (right turn) (mile 18 @ 5th Street just before North Maple Street)
West 5th Street to North Maple Street (left turn) (mile 19 @ Maple Street)
North Maple Street to Park Street (right turn)
Park Street to North Poplar Street (left turn)
North Poplar Street to West Division Street (left turn)
West Division Street to North Maple Street (left turn)
North Maple Street to West 2nd Street (right turn)
West 2nd Street to North Walnut Street (left turn)
North Walnut Street to West 4th Street (left turn)
West 4th Street to North Walnut Street (left turn)
North Walnut Street to West 1st Street/Section Line Road (left turn) (mile 20)
West 1st Street/Section Line Road to North Main Street (left turn)
North Main Street to to West 3rd Street (right turn)
West 3rd Street to North Oak Street (right turn)
North Oak Street to East Adams Street (left turn)
East Adams Street to Route 50 (left turn) (mile 21 @ Route 50 & West 1st)
Route 50 to 3rd Street/9000N (right turn)
3rd Street/9000N to Boudreau Road (right turn) (mile 22 @ 9000N Road)
Boudreau Road to Pine Drive (straight) (mile 23 @ Boudreau Road)
Pine Drive to Mulberry Street (left turn)
Mulberry Street to Bramble Street (left turn) (mile 24 @ Mulberry)
Bramble Street to Diversatech Drive (left turn)
