In the weeks leading up to his wife’s death, Kyle Holmes thought things were finally turning a corner. They were talking about future plans again. She seemed lighter. Mother’s Day had gone well. After months of hospital visits, therapy appointments, obsessive fears, and constant reassurance-seeking, it finally felt like some of the weight had lifted. Then, while Kyle was at work one day, his wife died by suicide after struggling with postpartum depression.

At 26 years old, Catherine O’Connor has learned something important about herself: she needs a goal to work toward. Without one, it’s easy to feel stuck. With one, she feels grounded, motivated, and connected to herself in a healthier way.

In 2024, I was awarded the Still I Run Starting Line Scholarship, and it reignited my love for movement and mental health advocacy. My goal was simple and intentional: run a half marathon, my favorite distance.