“Through these efforts, we hope to save other families from the tragedy we experienced. We want to continue Marie’s legacy of bringing smiles to other people’s faces. We believe in this way, Marie’s memory is kept alive, and her last impact on the world is a positive one.“ —Terri & Lou Jozefiak
How Ride 2 End Suicide started?
In 2013 the Jozefiak family lost their beautiful Marie in a tragic moment that they could never have anticipated.
Marie was just 21 years old and described by others as spunky, friendly, generous and hard working. Her ability to have fun no matter what she was doing drew people to her. But she could also be anxious, stressed and overwhelmed. Even though Marie was loved fiercely, and she was surrounded by a circle of friends at college, she felt unable to cope. One Saturday in November, she took her own life.
Her family searched for a unique way to remember Marie and move forward. In 2016, with the help and support of close friends, the Jozefiaks organized the first bicycle ride charity fundraiser - The Ride 2 End Suicide. Every year, they donated proceeds to local suicide prevention and crisis intervention organizations, including Common Ground.
Starting in 2024, the Jozefiaks handed over the management of the event to Common Ground.
Our First Ride…
“The first Ride in 2016 had 70 riders. The theme was Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. Together with many others, we built a memory board to remember our loved ones and raised a great amount of money for our cause.
Our second annual Ride in 2017 had more than 150 riders. We significantly increased our fundraising for suicide prevention, through the amazing generosity of our riders, donors, and raffle participants.
The goal is to continue to grow this event each year. Through these efforts, we hope to save other families from the tragedy that the we have experience, and want to continue Marie’s legacy of bringing smiles to other people’s faces. In this way, Marie’s memory is kept alive and her last impact on the world is a positive one.”
Terri (& Lou) Jozefiak
Ride Founders & Marie’s parents
We’d love to learn more about why you’re participating in the Ride 2 End Suicide.
If you’d like to share, please complete the form below.