Brothers Jon and Chris Bearden loved turtles. Collecting them was their shared childhood passion.
From time to time, they’d visit family in the Ozarks and a turtle or two from there would inevitably find itself moving to Colorado.
Jon (right) said he and Chris had a normal childhood, born and raised in Colorado Springs. Jon graduated from Cheyenne Mountain High School.
Chris was a Palmer graduate.
But five years ago their relationship ended when Chris, 20, committed suicide.
Jon said there were no signs that Chris was troubled. Nobody in the family detected any depression or mental illness.
One day he was there. The next he was gone.
So in the memory of his brother, in the hope that he and others can come together and perhaps save one life – maybe more – Jon Bearden has organized a fundraising event with two parts.
The first is a fun bike ride called “The Ride to Save a Suicide.” The second is a bike race that he named “The Turtle Challenge.”

More Event info here and here.
Fox 21 interview

Both will take place at El Pomar Youth Sports Park, 2212 Executive Circle, on Sunday (Aug. 15). The 40-mile race starts at 8 a.m. The ride (23 miles) starts at 9 a.m.
The cost to enter the ride or race is $30. Teams of three or more pay $25 per person. All students pay $15. Same day registration is available. The proceeds go to Pikes PeakSuicide Prevention.
Bearden said losing Chris was “complete devastation.”
“That first year after Chris died was so difficult with family events and holidays, birthdays with the one person not being there,” he said. “It took a long time to get over, extremely hard to deal with. It just didn’t seem real. It felt like a dream.”
Bearden said he and his brother were raised well. Chris’ suicide created tormenting questions that remain unanswered.
“Chris had just had a birthday and we talked about suicide because a friend of a friend (had recently committed suicide),” Bearden said. “We
talked about how crazy it was."
He started the Ride to Save a Suicide and The Turtle Challenge so that others would not have to endure losing a loved one by suicide. Bearden also lost and uncle and three friends to suicide.
“I don’t want my family, friends, co-workers, anyone to feel like I felt,” he said. “That’s why I’m trying to get the word out there as much as I can.”
He said it’s important for everyone to know that help is available.
“There are places out there, like Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention, that will help,” he said. “There are hotlines and there is counseling available. It’s just a matter of getting the word out and that’s what the money we raise will do. It will help get counselors to schools to talk about this.”
All riders will receive a cool event T-shirt, plus a bag of goodies. The top three finishers in each of four categories (women, juniors to age 19, 20-35 and 36-plus) will receive medals. After the rides, there will be a barbecue, a beer garden and the opportunity to have a massage.