Join us for this unique, mostly uphill 5k event that carries a powerful message and raises awareness about mental illness and suicide.

Intrepid souls will walk and some will carry canoes as they journey together from Hwy 35 up County Road M to Kinstone,commemorating the last few miles of the original 313-mile Portage for a Purpose journey made by Evan Hansen in 2021. Evan will lead the way as he portages the original canoe and brings it again to rest in the center of the Great Stone Circle on the stone known as “Eternity”. The uphill path and burden of a canoe symbolize the burdens we all carry in life. Will you walk with him? No need to carry a canoe – unless you want to – join us on this walk to raise awareness about mental illness and suicide.

After the walk, join us for a special fire ceremony at the Stargazer Circle, where messages will be offered and, conditions permitting, ceremoniously burned.You may write messages to loved ones and share stories. Refreshments will be available inside the Kinstone Visitor Center. Feel free to bring flowers or natural offerings to place at the Eternity Stone which will be as a symbolic grave for all those lost to suicide.

Date: Saturday, October 10th

Time: 10:00am

Fee: $10/person. (NOTE: this fee covers your participation as well as entrance into Kinstone for the day; 100% of this fee is donated to NAMI SE MN)

REGISTRATION LOCATION: Kinstone Visitor Center, S3439 Cole Bluff Lane, Fountain City, WI, 54629 – pay and register at Kinstone, starting as early as 9:00am; all walkers will be shuttled to starting location (no pre-registration required); the last shuttle will leave Kinstone no later than 10am.

WALK Starting Location: Bluff Siding Road near the intersection of WI HWY 35 and County Road M, Fountain City, WI.

WALK Ending Location: Kinstone, in the center of the Great Stone Circle at the “Eternity” stone. (Address: S3439 Cole Bluff Lane, Fountain City, WI)

If you are not walking or carrying a canoe, but you wish to attend to support others and to participate in the fire ceremony or just wander Kinstone, just come directly to Kinstone! You will still need to pay admission upon arrival.

100% of ALL admissions to Kinstone on this day will be donated to NAMI SE MN.

Don’t miss Evan Hansen’s book, “Into the Wind,” available at the Kinstone Gift Shop. Your support means the world.

Historical Perspective on Portage For A Purpose

In 2021, Evan Hansen portaged a canoe over 300 miles across the state of Minnesota to raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention. He called his journey “Portage for a Purpose”. Along the way, he collected names and stories of people with loved ones who died due to suicide. Those names were written on the canoe. He ended that portage/walk in the center of Kinstone’s own Great Stone Circle at the stone known at “Eternity”.  Throughout this project he raised over $50,000 for the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI SE MN).

In 2022, he commemorated the anniversary of that effort with a public 5k portage / walk that traced the last five kilometers of his original journey – a mostly uphill trek. Now, in conjunction with Kinstone, Evan will host this Portage for a Purpose 5k Event again!  Last year (2022) we had over 20 walkers and 2 portagers. We expect many more participants this year and definitely more people carrying canoes in this unique 5k event! Will you be one of them?

Together, Kinstone and Evan Hansen offer this event as a force for good; it is one way we can provide a positive impact and support for those who may be struggling with mental illness.

Evan Hansen wrote a book called “Into the Wind” about his experiences on his 313 mile portage in 2021. This book is available for sale in the Kinstone Gift Shop. It is a compelling and relevant read. Get your copy here!

Visit Evan Hansen’s facebook page, Portage for a Purpose, for more information about him and his mission.