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Glacial Lakes SAFE (Suicide Awareness For Everyone) capped off Suicide Prevention Week with its annual Suicide Prevention Event on Saturday.
A day full of events was based at the Watertown Readiness Center. The day began at 8:30 a.m. with a 22-mile ruck march around Lake Kampeska. Marchers were encouraged to carry a ruck sack filled with canned goods, and one can was to be deposited at stations set up every mile of the course.
Later in the day, a 5K run and 1-mile walk were held. Many entrants donned t-shirts honoring friends or loved ones who lost their lives by suicide. Six runners chose the 5K option and nearly 200 participated in the 1-mile walk.
“I think the warm weather may have limited the number of people who ran the 5K,” said Kelli Rumpza of Glacial Lakes SAFE and the Human Services Agency. But we still had a great turnout.
After the running and walking events, a Remembrance Ceremony was held at the Readiness Center. The ceremony featured speakers and attendees, many of whom shared personal stories of how suicide has affected their lives. Names of victims were read and a balloon release was held. About 10 local mental-health related organizations had informational tables set up inside the Readiness Center
This was the ninth year of the suicide awareness event. Rumpza said about 30 volunteers worked to make the day run smoothly. She said planning will begin immediately for next year’s event.
