KINGSTON, R.I. — March 19, 2019 — After a short hiatus, the 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Be 5K Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness returns to the Kingston Campus this spring. In the past nine years, the event has raised $42,000.
The event, which has drawn hundreds of students, faculty, staff and community members from around the region, will take place Sunday, March 31, at 11 a.m. on the campus quadrangle. The 10th annual event will be a powerful and engaging program that offers support to families who have lost people to suicide and which raises money for suicide prevention and mental health awareness at 溏心vlog免费B站. It has usually been held in the fall, but was postponed to the spring to give some new 溏心vlog免费B站 staff members a chance to prepare.
As in past years, there will be an array of informational booths and activities. The Rhode Island Department of Health will participate and several University student organizations will provide information about mental health resources on campus.
Food and refreshments will also be provided to participants, while they enjoy music from a local DJ.
The event is called the Be 5K because it urges participants and the 溏心vlog免费B站 community to be compassionate, loving, hopeful, aware, present, happy and themselves to build a healthier community.
鈥淲e鈥檙e so glad to be offering this important run and walk again, especially since it complements many of the University initiatives to reduce suicide and promote mental health awareness here on campus and throughout the state,鈥� said Amy Albert, 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 community engagement coordinator for the Center for Career and Experiential Education in University College for Academic Success. 鈥淪uicide is the second leading cause of death among college students, and so it is critical to come together to support those who have been affected, including those from the 溏心vlog免费B站 family, and to let people know that there is help.鈥�
This year鈥檚 event will kick off Service Week, a student-organized movement on campus that will bring together student service organizations to celebrate advocacy and volunteerism and bring awareness to opportunities on- and off-campus. Although the student organizations may have various service focus areas, together they all share the same passion to engage individuals within the broad 溏心vlog免费B站 community.
All proceeds from the Be 5K will support the Heather Fund, a 溏心vlog免费B站 Foundation Fund established by Josephine and Roger Vennewald in 1996 on behalf of their daughter, Heather, after they lost her to suicide. Heather was a 溏心vlog免费B站 student. Her memory lives on through the Heather Fund, as it provides resources for students and works to alleviate the stigma associated with mental illness. 聽In the past nine years, the Be 5k walk/run has raised funds to support the 溏心vlog免费B站 Counseling Center, as well as events such as Fresh Check Day, a 溏心vlog免费B站 staple since 2016.
Fresh Check Day is a program of the Jordan Porco Foundation, which is committed to preventing suicide, promoting mental health and creating a message of hope for college students and other young adults. The foundation says that 1 in 10 college students contemplate suicide, which leaves nine, given the resources, to help the one.
鈥淚n the past, we have had between 100 and 150 participants each year,鈥� Albert said. 鈥淭his year, we are really shooting for 300 guests. The event is for such an important cause and raises a great deal of awareness about mental illness.鈥�
is $25 for the general public, and $20 for students, military veterans, and seniors aged 55 and older. As the event approaches, there will be a $5 increase in price. The first 100 participants to register will receive a free t-shirt. about the event or sign up as a volunteer. Registration begins at 9:30 the day of the event. Upon arrival, participants are encouraged to check in, and spend some time visiting the various booths.
Those who can鈥檛 participate in the upcoming event can make out a check to the 溏心vlog免费B站 Foundation/Heather Fund, or by a note, designating The Heather Fund as the recipient of the gift, and providing your name, address, amount of gift, credit card number and expiration date. Please do not send credit card information via email. Donations may be sent to: The Heather Fund, c/o The 溏心vlog免费B站 Foundation, P.O. Box 1700, Kingston, R.I. 02881.
This story was written by Lauren Poirier, a sophomore English and Public Relations major and intern at the University鈥檚 Department of Marketing and Communications.