From heartbreak to hope: Love Like Ky hosts ski day to spread mental health awareness

PARK CITY, Utah—The Love Like Ky Foundation, created in memory of Kyler Efinger, will hold its Community Ski Day at Park City Mountain Resort on March 15, 2025. The foundation and the event aim to raise awareness about mental health struggles in mountain towns while fostering community connection through skiing, music, and local nonprofit engagement.

Kyler Efinger, known for his boundless enthusiasm and deep love for family and sports, grew up in Park City. He battled bipolar disorder for a decade, and on Jan. 1, 2024, while experiencing a manic episode, he tragically lost his life at Salt Lake City International Airport. In his memory, his family established Love Like Ky, a foundation dedicated to enhancing mental well-being in mountain communities.

“Our goal is to enrich mental well-being in mountain towns,” said Annekë Efinger, Kyler’s sister and vice president of Love Like Ky. “Suicide rates in these areas are two to three times higher than the national average. We want to bring awareness, connect people with resources, and help the next family before it’s too late.”

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The Park City event, the foundation’s second stop on its tour, follows an inaugural ski day in Sun Valley, Idaho. Future stops include Aspen, Colorado, and Lake Tahoe, California. Each event blends outdoor recreation with mental health advocacy, encouraging participants to engage proactively and positively with local resources.

Event Highlights:

• Ski Vertical Contest (12 p.m.) – Participants ski or ride laps to honor their loved one’s mental health. Each lap earns a raffle ticket for premium ski gear, including PEAK skis, custom Surefoot boot liners, and Smith goggles.
• Mental Health Resource Booths – Attendees can connect with local organizations such as Live Like Sam, the Christian Center of Park City, and People’s Health Clinic. Each visit earns an additional raffle ticket.
• Sober Après-Ski (2 p.m.) – A DJ will provide music while guests enjoy non-alcoholic beverages in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
• Gear Raffle & Dance Party (3 p.m.) – A culmination of the day’s activities, featuring a raffle and celebration.

“We want this event to be joyful, a celebration, something that makes it easier to talk about mental health,” Efinger said. “There have been great mental health events in mountain towns, but many are intense, rightly so. We hope to create a space where people can have fun while being proactive about their well-being.”

Mental health struggles are often stigmatized in outdoor communities, where a culture of resilience and adventure can make it difficult to acknowledge personal challenges. According to Efinger, this is compounded by transient populations, seasonal work, and a prevalent party culture. The foundation aims to break down these barriers by fostering open conversations and providing access to resources in a natural and engaging way.

“There’s a perception that if you live in the mountains, every day should be perfect,” Efinger said. “That mindset can make it hard for people to ask for help. We want to change that.”

The Love Like Ky Foundation collaborates with BeNice.org, an evidence-based mental health education platform, to provide additional tools for individuals and communities. The foundation’s long-term goal is to expand its reach beyond ski towns and continue advocating for mental health support nationwide.

“For us, this is deeply personal,” Efinger said. “We lost Ky, but if we can help another family avoid the same heartbreak, then we know we’re making a difference.”