An Oregon man walking across the country to raise awareness of bullying — his son took his own life because of bullying — died when he was hit by a truck in eastern Colorado.

Joe Bell, 48, of La Grande, Ore., was walking on the eastbound shoulder of U.S. 40 in Cheyenne County, about 20 miles northwest of Kit Carson, when he was hit by a semi truck, said Trooper Josh Bell, a Colorado State Patrol spokesman.

Bell died at the scene about 5:10 p.m. Wednesday.

The driver of the truck, Kenneth Raven, 49, of Bryan, Texas, has been cited for careless driving resulting in death. He was not injured.

Bell’s death was announced on his Facebook page — Joe’s Walk for Change.

The page, which had over 4,000 likes Thursday, said Bell was “walking across America to educate anyone who will listen about the lasting effects of bullying.”

Jadin Bell, who was 15, took his own life earlier this year. He “was bullied relentlessly for being gay, both in school and online,” according to a web site devoted to Joe Bell’s campaign.

“Thank you so much for all of your continued support, he loved everyone he came into contact with, and was so appreciative of all of your support,” said a post on the Facebook page. “He will continue his journey now with Jadin. Please keep his family in your prayers and thoughts.”

Bell planned to walk from Oregon to New York City. He started April 20.

Steamboat Pilot & Today reported that Joe Bell was in Steamboat Springs on Aug. 1. He spoke at Sk8 Church, Boys and Girls Club and the It Takes Courage anti-bullying group.

“My son didn’t choose to be gay. My son was different at a very young age,” Joe Bell said in Steamboat. “He told his family he was gay because he knew they would accept him. I hugged him and kissed him on the cheek every day. I was proud of him.”

The Facebook page shows a stop in Grand Lake on Aug. 7, and speaking dates in Boulder on Aug. 16 and Denver on Aug. 20.

On Aug. 26 Joe Bell blogged: “Amy and I are in Denver together, putting some very exciting things together! Amy and I have a lunch date with Second Wind Fund today at 1 o’clock. We will collaborate on the best ways to combat suicide. Second Wind Fund is a non profit organization that we have come across during my walk through Denver, Colorado. We plan on working together for the better good across the country supporting each other and getting our messages out.”

Richard Eveleigh, executive director of the Second Wind Fund, Inc., walked five miles with Bell last month on a stretch between Boulder and Denver.

“That was a very important bonding experience for me,” Eveleigh said. “Seeing what he did day in and day out.”

Lakewood-based Second Wind’s mission is to decrease the incidence of suicide in children and youth by removing the financial and social barriers to treatment.

On Sept. 2 JoesWalkForChange tweeted: “We love The Second Wind Fund in Denver! Join the Joe’s Walk Team and walk with Joe!”

Bell spoke at a Second Wind event, a walk Sept. 22 at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Golden.

“In a very personal and emotional presentation, he spoke about the loss of his own son, which he attributed a great deal to bullying” Eveleigh recalled. “His message was: We must change and spread the word about the acceptance of people for who they are.”

On Oct. 9 a photo on Bell’s Facebook page showed a road sign indicating Kit Carson was 20 miles away. The caption read: “Making headway, one step at a time.” The site indicated he was scheduled to speak to a youth group in Hugo.

“I was very profoundly impacted by his message, his mission and his experience,” Eveleigh said.

Anyone with thoughts of suicide should call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 800 273 TALK (8255) for help.

Eveleigh added: “The change he also sought was to get the message out there that suicide is preventable, that mental health treatment works.”

Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or twitter.com/kierannicholson