Memorial walk in Winnetka shares resources, support for mental health

Hayden Wieczorek took a walk to remember on Sept. 29 and he was far from the only one.

Alongside his sister, Abby Wieczorek, and mother, Liz Hall Wieczorek, Hayden Wieczorek led dozens of supporters up Sheridan Road in Winnetka to Maple Beach in honor of his father, Joseph Wieczorek, who died by suicide in June.

Joseph Wieczorek, 64, believed in exercise and the outdoors, Hayden said. He also liked to walk the family’s dog along Sheridan when they lived in Winnetka. With those things in mind, Hayden thought a Sheridan Road walk and beach gathering was appropriate to remember Joseph Wieczorek and to remember that help is available.

Hayden said his father wrote before his death that he felt like he had no other options. The words inspired Hayden to create the Speak Up For Joe/Mental Health Matters Walk on Sept. 29.

“It really inspired me to show other people that there are options and other people out there,” he said. “I wanted to share resources out there and have people be informed, to know when they get into a deep challenge they have some resources to go to.”

He added, “There are solutions and a lot more to life than harm.”

To help get the message across, Hayden teamed with North Shore organizations Inspire Counseling Center, with multiple locations in the North Shore, and Erika’s Lighthouse, a nonprofit named for Winnetka 14-year-old Erika Neuckranz that raises awareness about adolescent depression and encourages good mental health.

The event, which raised more than $10,000 for Erika’s Lighthouse, featured plenty of familiar faces for Hayden — family members, old friends, former Winnetka neighbors, and friends and colleagues of his father. As they all walked, they all talked, helping to fulfill Hayden’s hopes for the day.

“We really wanted people to communicate more about mental health and speak up,” he said. “The biggest goal of ours is to have people speak up. We wanted to turn a negative into a positive, inspire people to speak up. There are resources, and there is care.”

Joseph Wieczorek moved to Florida in 2021, and died in St. Petersburg on June 18. With Liz, he raised Hayden and Abby in Winnetka; the two were graduates of New Trier High School. He enjoyed biking, running and water sports, such as sailing and fishing. He is also survived by his sister Lori (Joseph) Siman and his daughter Bianca Wieczorek (mother Sherrie Nord Wieczorek).

To Hayden, he was a light and someone he leaned on when he battled with his own mental health.

“He was a hard-working, caring person,” Hayden said of his father. “He always put people first. He was a big figure in my life and showed me there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

The Wieczoreks request any donations in Joseph’s honor be made to Erika’s Lighthouse.

Hayden and company hope the walk becomes an annual event as a means to help as many people as possible improve their mental health.

“For me, speaking up really saved my life,” he said. “I had a great high school and growing-up experience. A lot of people don’t understand depression is a disease. … We want this (event) to get bigger and better and save as many lives as possible.

“I want people to know you can get through this. Life is going to be challenging but there are so many great people and resources.”

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