Families gather in Pacifica for HOPE Memorial Walk to remember loved ones who died from an overdose

"I think it's more that I don't want to believe it. To think he's really gone hurts too much." PACIFICA, Calif. (KGO) -- Annual event honors lives lost to overdose while promoting fentanyl awareness, harm reduction and recovery resources. Hundreds of people gathered in Pacifica on Saturday for the third annual HOPE Memorial Walk, a community event dedicated to honoring those lost to drug overdoses and educating the public about prevention, recovery and harm reduction. Participants carried photographs of loved ones as they walked together, sharing stories of loss and healing while raising awareness about the ongoing overdose crisis. For Christina Hill of Santa Rosa, the event was an opportunity to remember her brother, Clemmie, who died from an overdose. "He started using two to three days before he passed away," Hill said. MORE: CA mothers navigate children's struggle with drug abuse, mental illness: 'A Mother's Hope' Despite the passage of time, Hill said the loss remains difficult to accept. "I think it's more that I don't want to believe it. To think he's really gone hurts too much," she said. The memorial walk is organized by HOPE, which stands for Healing Overdose Prevention a nd Education. The nonprofit was founded by Pacifica residents Rondel and Clarence Davis after their son, Tyler Davis, died from a fentanyl overdose in 2023. "We would like other families not to have to go through what we went through," Rondel Davis said. After losing their son, the couple decided to channel their grief into advocacy and education. "With that, we decided to prevent other people from going through the same thing we went through, and so we started HOPE," Clarence Davis said. MORE: SF joins thousands across country in annual 'Walk For Lives' to raise awareness of fentanyl The event coincides with International Overdose Awareness Day and offers support for families affected by addiction while connecting attendees to community resources. Organizers say sharing personal stories can help reduce stigma and encourage others to seek help. Attendees also learned about Narcan, an overdose-reversal medication that can save lives during opioid and fentanyl-related emergencies. Gợi ý thực hành: 1. Theo dõi thông báo từ cơ quan địa phương tại California. 2. Kiểm tra nguồn chính thức trước khi chia sẻ lại thông tin.