Ann Breeding: October Partner of the Month

by Judy Mandel

Ann Breeding knew she had to do something after she lost her son in 2020 to an overdose. When his birthday was approaching that first year, on May 20, she told her husband she just didn’t want to be here anymore. 

It was actually something her son had said to her that made her look outside herself to find a way to help others.

“Daniel said I should do some kind of outreach to help people like him, because he saw my genuine love and how I just wanted to help,” Ann said. 

As his birthday approached, Ann wondered how she was supposed to go on. “How was I supposed to breathe—I don’t know if I can.” That’s when the word “walk” came to her. That word was “put on my heart,” she explained. “That’s where Steps of Hope actually started.” Her organization in Iowa is now a 501(c)(3).

She connected with others on Face Book and learned that she could start a walk event to bring awareness to the overdose epidemic, and help others grieve, by posting on Face Book. That first year, six months after Daniel’s death, in 2021, she had 150 people show up for her inaugural Steps of Hope walk. This past year that number was 644, even in terrible rainy weather.

Ann was beginning to watch different groups on Face Book, and noticed the National Trail of Truth and the tombstone event in Washington, D.C. “I didn’t realize that was their first year for the national event, but I desperately wanted to be there.”

Unfortunately Ann was scheduled to have surgery at that time and couldn’t attend. Another mom on the Trail of Truth page offered to keep her connected to the event by posting pictures and a live video of the tombstone Ann had submitted for her son. “It was a powerful and kind thing she did for me,” Ann remembers.

Ann later kept in touch with Alexis at Trail of Truth and became very active in Iowa. She speaks at schools, church groups, health care organizations. “Anyone who will listen,” she said. 

Making naloxone (brand name NARCAN) available, and providing training for administering the life saving measure is at the top of Ann’s list. She is currently working with Drake University to train all of the RAs in the dorms and making sure naloxone is available in each dorm. Steps of Hope also provided a company-wide training for Graham Construction, and now they make naloxone training part of their employee program. NARCAN is now available at all of their job sites and on their trucks.

Recent distributions to the organization from the opioid settlements have made it possible for Steps of Hope to supply more NARCAN sites, and provide training.  

“Tombstone painting gatherings are so beautiful and offer so much healing for families,” Ann noted. “Sometimes families don’t get to grieve properly because of the stigma and shame. The painting gathering is safe space where they can talk openly and know they are not alone.” Steps of Hope has a memorial event on August 31st each year at the state capitol. She also takes the tombstones to the National Trail of Truth. Ann became a Partner with Trail of Truth because she believes in what the organization is doing. “Their hearts are in line with my heart, it’s like a big family.” She also appreciates being able to bounce ideas off each other and working as a team.

The Steps of Hope annual walk on  Daniel’s birthday on May 20, at the community college, is still close to Ann’s heart. Along the route of the walk Ann invites others with resources to set up tables. “I think of the information and resources that were of help to me and try to make those available,” she said. “We also try to have some fun there for the kids to get involved.”

Steps of Hope is making a difference in Iowa and Ann Breeding is a very special Partner with the National Trail of Truth.