Register to walk or volunteer!

Starting on National Grief Awareness Day (August 30th, 2026), a 111-mile remembrance walk spanning 7 days will take place to honor loved ones lost and support grieving families. The 111 miles represent the stark reality that 1 in 11 children in the U.S. will experience the death of a parent or sibling before they turn 18 (Source: JAG Institute Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model).

You are invited to walk any distance. Together, we’ll share memories, life lessons learned and promises connected to the ones we have lost.  All 111 miles will take place at our 92-acre camp, with each day spotlighting a different cause of loss. Nonprofits, community partners, and individuals are all encouraged to join, walk, or volunteer. To help anchor the entire journey, Alex Sheen, the Founder of because I said I would, will be walking all 111 miles in honor of his father who died of lung cancer on September 4th, 2012.

Track Alex walking on GPS LIVE!

7 Days, 7 Causes: Walking to Honor Every Story

To recognize the diverse experiences of grief within our communities, each day of this 111-mile walk is dedicated to a distinct cause of loss. However, people are invited to join on any day for any reason.

• Day 1: Sunday, August 30 | Loss to Violence – coincides with National Grief Awareness Day.
• Day 2: Monday, August 31 | Substance Abuse & Overdose; coincides with International Overdose Awareness Day.
• Day 3: Tuesday, September 1 | Mental Health & Suicide Prevention
• Day 4: Wednesday, September 2 | Heart Disease
• Day 5: Thursday, September 3 | Accidents & Unintentional Injuries
• Day 6: Friday, September 4 | Cancer Awareness – The 14th anniversary of the death of Alex Sheen’s Father 
• Day 7: Saturday, September 5 | All Causes of Loss & Community Remembrance – The 14th anniversary of because I said I would’s beginning

Where Your Donation Goes

Donations support three life-changing bereavement and resiliency programs through Camp because I said I would:

• Time Away With Family (Level 1): Providing 1 to 2 night resort cabin stays at no cost for families who have lost a loved one in the last 24 months, giving up to 150 families a year a quiet space to rest, reconnect, and heal in nature.
• Adult Bereavement Retreats (Level 2): 3 day, 2 night immersion retreats focused on mental health habits and resiliency skills (covering vital topics like stress management, hope, emotional regulation, and goal setting) to help adults process grief and rebuild their lives.
• Specialized Youth Camps: Custom resiliency programming designed in partnership with schools, families, and youth organizations to help kids who have lost a loved one build emotional fortitude and coping skills.
  Donate to the 111-Mile Remembrance Walk Fundraising Campaign →
  

  About our Bereavement Programs

   

Another Way to Support the 111-Mile Remembrance Walk!

We’ve added a fun new way to participate and support the 111-Mile Remembrance Walk fundraiser: our virtual silent auction! Browse the items, place your bids, and help support bereavement and resiliency programs at Camp because I said I would.

Bidding is open now through Sunday at midnight.

Browse the Silent Auction & Place Your Bids →