New Mexico Man turns school bus into a memorial for loved ones lost from suicide

FARMINGTON, N.M. – One New Mexico man has made it his mission to journey the nation to lift suicide consciousness.

Over the previous final 14 months, he and his spouse have traveled to 27 states in a college bus that they changed into their residence, nevertheless it’s additionally a spot for folks dealing with a liked one’s suicide.  

The couple was within the 4 Corners Wednesday to unfold a message of hope.

Cory Richez, is the proprietor of the Suicide Consciousness Bus, he mentioned it began three years in the past when he misplaced his stepson to suicide.

“He took the colt firearm, named the peacemaker, I gave it to him at 10, we saved it at grandpa’s home, and at 13 he known as me and thanked me for that firearm later that night time he dedicated,” mentioned Richez.

His life was turned the other way up, “I sat depressed for a 12 months and a half and I made a decision I might do one thing small, considerably.”

So he made a drastic choice.

“I had a small ranch, 70 acres in northern Arizona, off Freeway 61, I made a decision to promote that ranch, the bikes and horses, every thing,” Richez mentioned.

With the mission to lift the bar on psychological well being.

“Eager to create one thing for my son that was so legendary, so magical that simply presumably folks simply seeing it’d assist them,” mentioned Richez.

Now hundreds of names, dates, and memorabilia of family members who took their life, from ages 5 to 91, cowl this bus.

“It’s to assist us having the ability to grieve in a constructive means, giving our family members gone a voice and hopefully that voice encourages others, if not yet one more hour, yet one more day, yet one more 12 months,” Richez added.

Richez spouse, Kelly Logan says this assortment of tales has the ability to encourage new beginnings, “folks have been on their technique to go commit suicide and seeing our bus have reached out months later telling us that we modified their life.”

Richez says folks have traveled lots of of miles to go away a be aware and even ashes of family members handed on the bus.

In case you or somebody you realize is considering suicide, there’s assist, dial the brand new suicide hotline quantity at 988.