Hilinski's Hope

Hilinski's Hope The Foundation’s mission is to educate, advocate, and remove the stigma associated with mental illness for student athletes.

16 pairs of HOKAs.Most are running shoes. One is a hiking boot. A few are missing.Together, they’ve carried Momma Kym th...
06/01/2026

16 pairs of HOKAs.

Most are running shoes. One is a hiking boot. A few are missing.

Together, they’ve carried Momma Kym through five years of training, three marathons during Mental Health Awareness Month; hiking Mailbox Peak, Mt. San Jacinto, and Na Pali Coast. Countless early mornings, long runs, tears, conversations, and moments of healing.

By our math, that’s 93,930 miles right here on this floor.

That’s enough to circle the globe 3.7 times.

Every mile had a purpose. Some days she ran for fitness. Some days she ran for clarity. Everyday she ran for Tyler.

Running has been her therapy, her prayer, her place to think, remember, grieve, heal, and keep moving forward. Through every step, HOKA never let her down.

These shoes are worn out, stained, and many are ready for retirement—but each pair holds a chapter of a journey that became so much bigger than running.

Here’s to the miles behind her, the miles ahead, and the reminder that no matter what you’re carrying, sometimes the best thing you can do is take the next step. As you do, always remember, !❤️❤️❤️


Mental Health Awareness Month ends today. The mission doesn’t. 💚For the student-athletes carrying pressure most people n...
05/31/2026

Mental Health Awareness Month ends today. The mission doesn’t. 💚

For the student-athletes carrying pressure most people never see, awareness was only ever the start. Keeping the conversation going, both in June, in July, and in every season after, that is our mission.

So hold up 3. Three things you can do today, and every day after:

1️⃣ Check in. Ask a teammate or friend how they’re really doing.

2️⃣ Speak up. Share your story. Silence is what stigma feeds on.

3️⃣ Show up. Be there today, and again tomorrow.

That’s how we honor Tyler. That’s how we change the game.

Last year, Tyler’s WSU teammate Isaac Dotson wrote this song and sent it to the Hilinski family as they were heading to ...
05/27/2026

Last year, Tyler’s WSU teammate Isaac Dotson wrote this song and sent it to the Hilinski family as they were heading to Tyler’s Lighthouse in Lihue. The title alone — “Pick Up the Phone” — carries such an important message.

So many people are hurting quietly. Struggling silently. Feeling like they have to carry everything alone. This song is a reminder to reach out…to pick up the phone, send the text, ask for help, check on a friend, or answer the call when someone needs you. Conversations can save lives.

Yesterday, Momma Kym stood at the lighthouse again, spreading more of Tyler’s ashes and throwing 3 leis into Nawiliwili Harbor. One for hope. One for love. One for every person fighting battles we cannot see.

Please don’t suffer in silence. You are not alone.

Music has a way of carrying memories, healing, and connection. Thank you, Isaac, for giving us this piece of Tyler to hold onto🙏🏻

Kym also finished her Challenge yesterday; her lighthouse marathon and always the hardest one. 26 miles, over 55K steps, and each one was for Tyler and all those struggling. It was a day filled with love, memories, strength, and purpose.❤️❤️❤️ *also please forgive the strong language, raw emotions don’t always chose gentle words😢

Last year, Tyler’s WSU teammate Isaac Dotson wrote this song and sent it to us as we were heading to Tyler’s Lighthouse ...
05/27/2026

Last year, Tyler’s WSU teammate Isaac Dotson wrote this song and sent it to us as we were heading to Tyler’s Lighthouse in Lihue. The title alone — “Pick Up the Phone” — carries such an important message.
Please listen to it and download.

So many people are hurting quietly. Struggling silently. Feeling like they have to carry everything alone. This song is a reminder to reach out… to pick up the phone, send the text, ask for help, check on a friend, or answer the call when someone needs you. Conversations can save lives.

Yesterday, Momma Kym stood at the lighthouse again, spreading more of Tyler’s ashes and throwing 3 leis into Nawiliwili Harbor. One for hope. One for love. One for every person fighting battles we cannot see.

Please don’t suffer in silence. You are not alone.

Thank you, Isaac, for giving us this beautiful piece of Tyler’s story to carry with us🙏🏻

Kym also finished the 3rd of her marathons; the hardest one, her lighthouse marathon. 26 miles, over 50K steps, every mile was for Ty. It was a rough day but also one filled with love, memories, tears, strength, and purpose. ❤️❤️❤️

05/26/2026

This photo was taken the day Tyler committed to WSU. Balloons, excitement, dreams, and a family with no idea how much that moment would someday mean…

Momma Kym’s sister is an elementary school teacher and this morning her class sang Happy Birthday to Ty. His life is still reaching people in the sweetest and most unexpected ways.

What a gift that is🙏🏻

Hold your people close today. Tell them you love them. Check in on your friends and family. Keep showing up for one another. ❤️❤️❤️

05/23/2026

Four years ago, a young woman from the University of Hawaiʻi sat in a Tyler Talk and listened with her heart wide open, Holly turned that moment into music. This song is beautiful…and so is she.

Momma Kym is on the last leg of her May journey and is in Honolulu listening to Holly’s words; tomorrow she’ll head to Lihue and Tyler’s Lighthouse carrying all of this with her-the connections, the healing, as well as the reminders that sharing our stories matter!

You truly never know how far one conversation can travel. This is her pilgrimage and while she often travels it alone, she never is truly alone, Tyler is always with her.

Mahalo, Holly, for using your voice and your heart. 🌺❤️❤️❤️🎸
💚

“Wow! I had no idea that I have been on a pilgrimage for eight years. Every place Tyler went I had to be there. Over and...
05/21/2026

“Wow! I had no idea that I have been on a pilgrimage for eight years. Every place Tyler went I had to be there. Over and over…I realized today that is how I keep loving him. Every step has been for him and for all those struggling with their mental health. I’ll be with Ty again but until then I have many more stops to make, steps to take, planes to jump on, and people to meet…today I hiked our favorite trail, Kamiak Butte. If you haven’t been to the Palouse, you have to go. It’s a special place! Miss you, my Sweet T.” ❤️❤️❤️

Thank you Spokane for taking care of Momma Kym! Marathon #2 of her 3for3 challenge is done! A message from our fearless...
05/18/2026

Thank you Spokane for taking care of Momma Kym! Marathon #2 of her 3for3 challenge is done! A message from our fearless leader…

“Somewhere between the miles, the laughter, and the conversations, I realized how lucky I am to have my sister beside me through all of this.

She even made this graphic for me … gave me muscles, but apparently forgot my neck. 😂❤️

But truly — if you have a sister, a brother, or even a “brother from another mother,” hug them tight. Call them. Text them. Tell them you love them.

None of us are promised tomorrow, and the people who walk beside us through the hard miles of life matter SO much more than we realize. Without love and the people in our lives we’d be lost. That is our compass.

Grateful for family, laughter, healing, every step forward, and all of the “GO COUGS” I heard on the run. I miss hearing them” ❤️❤️❤️

Every episode of UNIT3D has been a conversation that someone, somewhere, needed to hear. In 2020, Dr. Josie Nicholson s...
05/14/2026

Every episode of UNIT3D has been a conversation that someone, somewhere, needed to hear. In 2020, Dr. Josie Nicholson showed up week after week for four fantastic years; sharing her passion and insight with our listeners, and she also brought to the podcast an amazing group of mental health advocates-coaches, athletes, administrators, athletic trainers, and colleagues-a very powerful list!

Dr. Nicholson handed off the mic to this incredible group-our B1G Team at Indiana University. Led by fearless Professor, Dr. Jesse Steinfeldt, along with his PhD students, they’ve embraced the baton and with their endless energy, kindness, and courage they’ve continued these critical conversations.

Congratulations to co-host Dr. Miata Walker as she walked across the stage with degrees in hand and a journey that goes far beyond the classroom.

Hilinski’s Hope is very thankful for this team of future sport psychologists and know that the athletes coming up the ranks will be surrounded by so much hope and mental health help! ❤️❤️❤️

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