Hailey’s Legacy: Sioux Falls Rally Brings a Light in the Darkness

In February of 2024, Larissa Strong got a phone call no mother should ever have to take. Her daughter, 21-year-old Hailey Barrick, had taken her own life. Now, more than a year and a half later, Larissa is doing whatever she can to make a difference.

Hailey’s death transformed her mother’s world forever. In the months since, Larissa has devoted herself to sharing her daughter’s story in hopes of creating real, lasting change.

This Saturday, Hailey's Legacy will host its Second Annual Rally for Suicide Awareness & Prevention. The event will be held at The Mosaic (500 N. Main Ave. in Sioux Falls) from 4 to 6 p.m. This year’s theme is A Light in the Darkness. Admission is free, but seating is limited.

Guest speakers will include South Dakota State legislators Erik Muckey and Kadyn Witman, along with representatives from the Helpline Center (988), Journey of Hope SD, NAMI SD, and the Sioux Falls Police Department.

The event's featured guest speaker will be Havva Ramadan, a critically acclaimed poet and singer/songwriter, with an international following.

I had the privilege of speaking with Larissa about this weekend's event, which you can learn more about in the clip below.

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Larissa also introduced me to another special guest: Alanna Brekhus, a close friend of Hailey’s. After Hailey’s passing, Alanna felt compelled to act, leading to the creation of Hailey’s Legacy. You can hear her inspiring story in the second audio clip below.

When someone you love loses their life so suddenly, it's a thing you never forget. In this clip, Alanna reflects on how she met Hailey and how a message she received on Snapchat at 4:32 AM will be something she remembers for the rest of her life.

In the time since Hailey's passing, Alanna has reconstructed her own life. In this clip, she explains how she's built herself back up and how her newfound faith has helped her along the way.

In this clip, Alanna speaks about the moment she decided she needed to do something. It was the moment she was in the hospital room with Hailey.

Finally, when asked what advice she might have for any young person who is currently struggling with mental health issues, Alanna had this to say.

As mentioned in the interview, poet and spoken word artist, Havva Ramadan will be flying in from the U.K. to read some of her acclaimed poetry at the event. Havva has garnered a huge following on various social media platforms by sharing her words and wisdom in a raw, brutally honest and unvarnished way.

For more information on Hailey, the impact she left on this world, and how you can help, check out the Hailey's Legacy Website.

Story Sources: Hailey's Legacy Website, Hailey's Legacy Petition Page