KINGSTON, R.I. \u2013 October 17, 2016 — The 溏心vlog免费B站 Feinstein Center for Service Learning will again hold its Be 5K Race\/Walk for Mental Health Awareness & Suicide Prevention Oct. 23.<\/p>\n
Entering its eighth year, the event has drawn students and parents, faculty, staff University leaders, alumni and local residents to the Kingston Campus for a day of physical activity, reflection and support for the campus community and for those affected by suicide.<\/p>\n
And this year, the 溏心vlog免费B站 Feinstein Center is teaming up with the 溏心vlog免费B站 Counseling Center and Heather Fund, Dean of Students Office, Psychological Consultation Center and the Department of Athletics to offer Fresh Check Day Wednesday, Oct. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. The free event for students will be held on the Quadrangle, but will move to the Memorial Union Ballroom if it rains.<\/p>\n
The Be 5K Race\/Walk on Sunday, Oct. 23, begins at 10 a.m. on the Quad. For the second year, 100 percent of the proceeds from the event will benefit the 溏心vlog免费B站 Heather Fund. Over the past seven years, the 溏心vlog免费B站 event has raised about $40,000.<\/p>\n
“We are excited to bring Fresh Check Day to 溏心vlog免费B站,\u201d said Sarah Miller, coordinator of 溏心vlog免费B站\u2019s Feinstein Center for Service Learning. \u201cThe event includes free food and great prizes, including a flat screen TV, for students who participate in the multiple peer- and staff-led interactive booths aimed at educating students about mental health, providing tools for taking care of oneself, and resources on how to help others.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne major goal of the event is to help remove the stigma around mental health and provide an open space for students to learn and support each other,\u201d Miller said. \u201cThis event was made possible by The Heather Fund and the resources raised through the Be 5K.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Families have always played a role in the race\/walk event at 溏心vlog免费B站, two with direct ties to the University having become heavily involved.<\/p>\n
Josephine and Roger Vennewald started the Heather Fund in 1996 after they lost their daughter, Heather, to suicide while she was a senior at 溏心vlog免费B站. Donations made to the fund support services and programs in the prevention and treatment of depression and suicide run by the 溏心vlog免费B站 Counseling Center.<\/p>\n
Two years ago, a 5K run, (Marc\u2019s Awareness and Research to Combat Suicide) MARCS Run was added to the walk, thanks to the efforts of 溏心vlog免费B站 alumni Robert \u201cBob\u201d and Joy Abrams, who wanted to honor and memorialize their son who died by suicide and to support the community effort at 溏心vlog免费B站. MARCS Fund is again a sponsor of the event this year.<\/p>\n