Hartland Walker Finds Kindess, Support on 224-Mile Walk

Written by Joni Hubred-Golden

Retired North Farmington High teacher and longtime Hartland resident Dean Cobb and Farmington Hills Police officer Duane Fox have experienced the kindness of friends, family and strangers as they complete their224-mile walk to raise funds and awareness for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

Cobb, 66, and Fox, 62, are five days into the walk, which began Sept. 15 in Benzonia and will end Sept. 26 at Cobb's home in Hartland. They're walking in memory of Dean and Sue Cobb's son-in-law Adam Tupa, who took his own life in 2009. 

Dean Cobb came up with the idea while he was working at North, where Fox was a liaison officer. On Sept. 22, Sue Cobb, also a North retiree, will take part in the Out of the Darkness walk at Kensington Metro Park in Milford, which benefits AFSP.

Cobb and Fox will begin the last leg of the journey starting the morning of Sept. 26, beginning at the Howell Holiday Inn near the Tanger Outlets. They are expected to reach Hartland that same day, completing the 224-mile journey.

The long-distance walkers were interviewed by WWTV/WWUP in Northern Michigan, and Sue Cobb has documented their travels through a Facebook page, where pictures show the help they've received on their journey. Hotels along the route have donated lodging, and friends, family and total strangers have supported them along the way. 

One Facebook post shares that the walkers were welcomed by a staff member at the Wexford County Road Commission building, who offered the use of a conference room. They ate lunch, relaxed and charged up their electronics.

The page also notes a number of encounters with people whose lives have been touched by suicide. 

Walkers are welcome to join Dean and Duane on any leg of the journey, and according to facebook.com/CobbandFox, there are many other ways to show support:

"So, whether you can actually meet up with the guys on this trek, or continue to give them a shout-out on FB, or donate to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention or Out of the Darkness, or walk in Kensington (or at any of the Out of the Darkness Walks) please remember that it all feels as though you are with them…every step of the way."

Donations can be made to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness Walks ("Team Tupa"), at www.afsp.org.   

To get help with depression or suicidal thoughts, call Common Ground at 1-800-231-1127, Samaritan Counseling at 248-474-4701 or the National Suicide Prevention hot line at 1-800-273-TALK.