Fun run supports suicide awareness
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RONAN – It’s time to put on a costume and run through the park in the dark for a good cause.
The Your Life Matters group invites the public to run or walk on Friday, Oct. 28, during the second Light the Night fundraiser. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. on race day and the race takes off at 6 p.m.
The run was developed this year to raise funds for a scholarship that will be given to a local student affected by suicide.
The YLM group is united in an effort to bring awareness to suicide. Although the topic can be somber, the group wants this to be a fun event. Because the race is close to Halloween, people can wear their costumes.
“We encourage people to dress up,” said Donalee Johnsen, YLM founder. Prizes will be given to the best individual costume and best family unit.
The race course starts near the Ronan High School football field and winds around town, through the decorated park, and back to the school for a distance of one mile, or a 3.1 mile 5K course.
Registration fees are set at $20 per person including an event T-shirt. Without the shirt the cost is $10. People registering on race day might have to wait to get a shirt.
“If we run out of shirts, we can always order more,” said Danyel McCrea, YLM member and volunteer race coordinator.
A memory board will be set up at the event with lights to illuminate it.
“People can bring memories of people that have passed away from suicide,” she said.
The YLM group meets regularly to bring awareness to suicide and new members are always welcome.
“This is a good group for people that have lost someone,” she said.
People thinking about attempting suicide have contacted the group through Facebook.
“We can direct people towards resources that can help,” Johnsen said. She added that she hopes people feel supported by hearing that their lives matter, which is reinforced with the group’s name.
Last year, the group raised funds to bring a speaker to the valley with a comedic approach. He also worked as a counselor. The idea was to remind kids of the importance of enjoying life even if it’s only to laugh at a funny joke.
Johnsen said one student approached the speaker after the event last year to share thoughts of suicide and get help.
Montana has ranked in the top five in the nation for suicide rates for the past four decades, according to the Montana Suicide Mortality Review Team.
The team was assembled by the State of Montana in 2013 to better understand the statewide problem being called a health issue that isn’t going away.
“Overall, the Montana suicide rate continues to increase and has remained at nearly twice the U.S. rate during the past decade,” the document stated.
Johnsen said that it’s difficult to know the exact numbers of people affected by suicide in Lake County. Many times the only report comes through a statewide average that doesn’t depict the number of unreported suicide attempts.
“We want to make this is an issue that people talk about,” she said. “We want people to feel that it’s okay to talk about this and get help.”
For more information about the event or the group, call 406-382-0088. People wanting to volunteer to help with the race can call 406-360-9182 or call 406-249-3373 to sponsor the event.
People can call the National Suicide Hotline if they need to talk or find help at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
