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.

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

  Starts on National Grief Awareness Day, addressing homicide, violent crime, and community trauma.

• Day 2: Monday, August 31 | Substance Abuse & Overdose

  Walking in solidarity with families impacted by addiction; coincides with International Overdose Awareness Day.

• Day 3: Tuesday, September 1 | Mental Health & Suicide Prevention

  Bringing light into the dark, destigmatizing mental health struggles, and remembering lives lost to suicide.

• Day 4: Wednesday, September 2 | Heart Disease

  Recognizing the sudden impact of cardiac illness and honoring the hearts gone too soon.

• Day 5: Thursday, September 3 | Accidents & Unintentional Injuries

  Remembering lives cut short by sudden accidents, collisions, and workplace tragedies.

• Day 6: Friday, September 4 | Cancer Awareness

  Honoring the brave battles fought against cancer.

• Day 7: Saturday, September 5 | All Causes of Loss & Community Remembrance

  Our unifying final day, bringing together all causes of grief and the promises we make in honor of those we have lost.

Walk With Us On-Site: Participant & Volunteer Logistics

Whether you are joining us as a walker or assisting on-site as a volunteer, please review the following operational details and event policies:

Event Schedule & Walk Hours

• Operating Hours: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM EDT daily.

• Route & Availability: Alex Sheen will be walking continuously on the charity route and managing operations throughout the day. Alex may be actively walking on-route and unavailable for up to 3-hour blocks at a time. Route distance is kept flexible to accommodate individual participant preferences and fitness levels.

Volunteer Opportunities

• Staffing the registration and welcome table

• Guiding walkers and providing directional assistance

• Conducting property tours via golf cart

• Assisting with office and administrative support tasks

What to Bring & On-Site Amenities

• Bring Food: Currently, we have no food sponsor, so please bring snacks. Water will be provided.

• Recommended Gear: Comfortable footwear appropriate for walking, a change of attire, and personal snacks/beverages (no meals are provided on-site for general walk participants/volunteers).

• Restrooms & Facilities: Restroom facilities are accessible from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily. Please note there are no shower facilities on-site. First aid equipment and parking instructions will be provided upon arrival.

Event Policies & Accessibility

• Accessibility Notice: Please note that the site and walking routes are not wheelchair or stroller accessible.

• Weather Policy: In the event of severe weather, guest walking activities will be canceled. Only Alex Sheen will complete route obligations during extreme weather conditions.

• Animal Policy: Service animals are permitted on-site; pets are strictly prohibited.

• Age & Consent Requirements: Children and minors are welcome but must be accompanied by a legal parent or guardian who can execute the liability waiver. All participants acknowledge media/photography recording consent upon registration, with an optional on-site opt-out available at check-in.

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 here: becauseisaidiwould.org/donate 

  About our Bereavement Programs