Kiefer was the light of our lives. A beloved son, brother, and friend. The last few years of his life, he suffered from debilitating anxiety, which led to clinical depression. We knew he suffered, but we thought his struggles were normal as he coped with a complicated world, searched for meaningful employment, and tried to build stronger connections with others.

As a local hometown boy, Kiefer grew up in Redmond, Oregon, and attended Redmond High School. He later went on to graduate from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. He was a wildland firefighter and was a brewtender at Wild Ride Brewing. He had a close-knit group of friends and a loving family, but none of us ever imagined that the depth of his struggles would lead him to take his life at the age of 26. A decision that devastated and shattered our family.

One of the issues that led to the end was the stigma of mental illness. Kiefer masked his feelings as a coping strategy. Our family and Wild Ride Brewing wants to eliminate this stigma and get people talking about the importance of mental health. This is why we partnered with Rimrock Trails Treatment Services. Their team of mental health professionals work every day to provide comprehensive evidence-based behavioral health services for our shared community.

We would be honored if you would join the movement and contribute to the Kiefer Magical Legacy Fund. In doing so, together, we can shine a light on mental health awareness and ensure access to behavioral health services for individuals and families, no matter their financial circumstances. - The Leutschaft Family