Living Undeterred: Johnston family plans summer golf tour to raise awareness for mental health and addiction

South Dakota Coyote golfer Ian Johnston’s summer is set to be filled with golf and with purpose.

By the numbers it sounds like an extended dream vacation and in some ways it is, but there is more to it for Johnston, a junior golfer at USD from Swisher, Iowa, whose family has endured pain they have now transformed to a cause.

Johnston’s brother, Seth Carnicle, died of a drug overdose in 2016. His mother, Prudence Johnston, died of alcohol-related causes in 2021.

These were two tragedies brought on by all-too-common circumstances. In response, the Johnston family has created the Living Undeterred Tour, a 95-day journey across the United States to raise awareness and funds for mental health, substance abuse, and addiction.

“We’re going to drive across the country and raise as much money as possible,” Johnston said. “I’m going to try to play golf in every state – or at least hit a ball in every state.”

The Johnstons will be traveling in an RV and separate the tour into three legs. Ian has woven two golf tournaments into the schedule along the way with several other nationally regarded golf courses targeted.

In explaining how the idea got going initially, Johnston started several sentences with ‘Well, if you knew my dad…” It’s clear his father Jeff Johnston is not a “why?” guy. He is a “why not?” guy with ideas, energy and a commitment to his causes.

“My dad thought up this tour idea out of the blue,” Johnston said. “It was last summer and he said he was going to get an RV and drive across the country. We slowed him down on that a little bit and planned it out a little better. Now we’re really ready to go.”

Living Undeterred is part of Jeff Johnston’s non-profit Choices Network, Ltd., an organization with a mission to educate and inspire teens and young adults to make positive choices and to raise money for programs that help treat those who struggle with substance abuse.

As the website explains:

Along the way, Jeff has met so many inspiring people that have their own story to share, about a loved one they lost to addiction, or about their own journey with mental health or substance abuse. These are issues impacting all of us.

The Living Undeterred Tour was created to bring everyone together, to raise awareness and funds for mental health and substance abuse. Together, we can change the narrative.

“It’s something positive – we’re going to be trying to help as many people as possible,” Ian Johnston said. “It’s great to be part of something where we’re going to be helping people not have to go through some of the same things our family has gone through.”

Johnston’s older brother died on Oct. 4, 2016, about a mile from where Johnston, then a sophomore in high school, was finishing up a district golf tournament the same day.

His mother died on June 29, 2021 at age 46. In this case, one death was connected to the other, Johnston said.

“My mom was a very caring person,” he said. “She was a stay-at-home mom so I saw her every single day and it was awesome. But my brother’s passing definitely traumatized her. It caused her to go down a road that wasn’t so great, unfortunately.”

The Tour begins in Cedar Rapids and goes through Des Moines then to Sioux Falls. From there they will go north to North Dakota before veering west to Montana, Idaho and Washington. They will then go south and cut back through Colorado and Nebraska on their return to Iowa.

The second leg begins in Minnesota – a fishing trip is going to be part of that trip – and then goes east and southeast. The final leg will include the south and parts of the southwest.

“When I’ve explained it to some people they think we’re crazy,” Johnston said. “But we’re doing it for a good cause. I’m very excited about it – I have been excited about it for a couple months now.”

Johnston began raising money for substance abuse agencies while still in high school so the charitable angle is in line with his history. Along the way he’ll be doing all he can to improve his game. It’s a dual-pursuit then with a pair of worthy targets.

Playing golf outside Iowa and South Dakota will be nothing new for Johnston, who estimates he’s been to more than 30 states already. Different conditions, different kinds of golf courses – what’s not to like with this trip?

“Everywhere we go we’ll be talking with people who have been affected by mental health or substance abuse,” Johnston said. “It’s something we can all relate to and have been affected by. I really want the trip to gain some momentum as it goes along and we can raise as much awareness as possible.”

Jeff Johnston will be speaking at Augustana in Sioux Falls on May 10 in conjunction with “Emily’s Hope,” a Sioux Falls-based organization bringing awareness to the opioid epidemic.

Those interested in donating, getting involved personally, or just following along with the Tour can do so at https://www.livingundeterred.org.