SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The trek across South Dakota for this year’s 437 Project and its runners has come to a close.
Sunday afternoon, the 12 437 project runners had a police escort as they approached the Levitt in Sioux Falls.
“I’m overwhelmed. My life has changed for being part of this,” runner Marty Wennblom of Rapid City said.
A few hundred people came out to support them.
“Especially coming in today, it was quite emotional seeing all the signs of loved ones lost to suicide and running in. We can’t do it without the support,” runner Susan Kornder of Aberdeen said.
It was a celebration, one runners needed after the challenges they experienced on the road from the Wyoming border to the Iowa border.
“I think all of us had different segments where it was really hard, or we were maybe more sleep deprived, our legs were hurting, but everyone did their part. We got through it together, honestly,” runner Jessica Rumpca of Pierre said.
But with every step and every mile they ran, digging deep and remembering why they were running in the first place helped them push through the pain.