Every Step Sparks a Conversation
Fuel the Next Steps Movement – Alex’s 2,560‑mile journey from Austin, TX to Oregon City, OR – raising funds to address mental health and suicide prevention.
Supported by
2,560 Miles. One Mission.
Every Step Matters
Video by Eric Estrada
No Matter How Dark The Clouds, There's Light On The Other Side
The reality of life is raw – most of us are figuring it out for the first time. Some days we dissociate, run, self-medicate, or sabotage. We want control, but life keeps reminding us we don’t always get it.
This walk and this movement aren’t about perfection. They’re about being human – aching, loving, breathing, showing up, and making this life real.
The choice is always there: to sit, to stay, to grow. To keep taking the next step forward, even when it hurts. That’s where the light comes in.
2,560 Miles. One Mission. Every Step Matters
The Five Pillars of The Next Step
Silence kills. That’s why we’re bringing mental health conversations to main streets, running trails, and community centers across America.
From Austin to Oregon City, we’re hosting Hope Huddles, community runs, and storytelling events that give people permission to speak about struggles they’ve been taught to hide.
Every city we visit becomes part of a growing network committed to breaking the stigma that keeps people suffering alone.
Movement as Medicine
The physical act of walking 2,560 miles is a daily reminder that progress is built one step at a time. Movement heals, grounds, and pushes us forward — body, mind, and spirit.
Nature as Therapy
Walking through mountains, deserts, rivers, and towns is about reconnecting with the land. Nature slows us down, clears our head, and reminds us that we belong to something bigger.
Seeing Yourself Fully
Mental health begins with honesty. Facing your own reflection — the pain, the struggle, and the hope — is the first step to healing.
Seeing Others Fully (Community & Connection)
We don’t heal alone. The walk is about meeting people where they are, listening, and reminding each other that connection saves lives.
Walking in Aligned Purpose
This journey honors AJ, but it also speaks to anyone carrying heavy burdens. It’s a call to walk with courage, faith, and intention — to live aligned with what truly matters.
When AJ's mom texted me 'he's gone,' I had two choices: let grief consume me, or let it move me forward.
I chose to walk. 2,560 miles from Austin to Oregon City, carrying not just AJ’s memory but a message for everyone who’s struggling: Your story isn’t over. Your next step matters. And you’re not walking alone. This journey isn’t about me – it’s about the lives we’ll save by finally talking about what we’ve been taught to hide.
Supported by some amazing brands
Together, we take the next steps.
We believe that no one should face their darkest moments alone. The Next Step Movement is committed to transforming silence into conversation, stigma into support, and individual struggles into community strength.
We’re walking 2,560 miles to connect communities, share resources, and prove that mental health matters. Through partnerships with local organizations, community events, and authentic storytelling, we’re creating safe spaces for the conversations that save lives.
Photo Credit: Juliana Rose Schilling
