The Roderick Family and local residents to participate in Annual 5K to support local suicide prevention and to remember Shane Roderick.

(Boston) – More than 2,500 runners, walkers, families and team members will support Samaritans’ mission to prevent suicide at the 16th annual “Run For Someone Else’s Life” 5K Run/Walk and Family Fun Festival on Saturday, September 27th along the Charles River.

The importance of a caring, compassionate community is emphasized at the event, in which the majority of the participants will be running or walking in memory of loved ones lost to suicide. Money raised from registration fees, pledges and corporate sponsorships will help Samaritans and its volunteers ease the despair, pain and loneliness suffered by so many individuals in our area. Samaritans believes that when people are heard and feel comforted our entire community benefits.

One of the inspiring teams participating in this year’s event that has experienced the life-changing work of Samaritans is Team Shane. Team Captain John Roderick created the team in honor of his beloved son, Shane Roderick, who tragically died by suicide this past February. “By participating, we’re letting Shane know that we are thinking of him, and we think he would be proud that we are helping others in his name. Shane’s death touched a lot of people in our community and we are so grateful for everyone’s support. The fundraising is going to a good cause as our family found the support of Samaritans, and we appreciate all that they do for those of us who have lost a loved one to suicide, as well as their prevention work. We hope and pray that others can avoid this fate.”

Team Shane will be holding a fundraiser called “This is My Hometown Honoring Shane Roderick”. It will be held on September 25, 2014 from 5-9 pm at the Ninety Nine in Tewksbury (401 Main St, Tewksbury, Ma 01876). The Ninety Nine will donate 15% of the proceeds made that night to Team Shane – guests just have tell their server that they are there for the fundraiser.

Samaritans is a locally based non-profit organization, and all of the proceeds generated from the 5K stay in Massachusetts and fund life-saving services, including our 24/7 phone and text helplines, Community Education and Outreach, and Grief Support Services for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Samaritans’ staff, volunteers and 5K participants are excited for the 16th Annual 5K, the only suicide prevention walk in the Commonwealth that provides financial support to the 24/7 crisis lines answered by Samaritans, including calls answered from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

This year’s event hopes to raise more than $400,000 for Samaritans’ mission to reduce the incidence of suicide in the Greater Boston and Metrowest community. If you would like to register for the 5K or make a donation to Team Shane, please visit their fundraising webpage found at www.samaritans5K.org

More about Samaritans

The Samaritans is a premier suicide prevention organization serving the Greater Boston and Metrowest areas. Over the past 40 years, Samaritans volunteers have answered more than 1.5 million phone calls to its 24/7 and Samariteens telephone helplines. The agency has also trained more than 4,000 volunteers and instructed more than 100,000 individuals through its community education and outreach programs. Thousands of individuals and families have been helped through the Samaritans’ grief support groups.

For more information on the Samaritans please visit www.samaritanshope.org or call 617-536-2460.

Samaritans 24/7 helplines:

· Boston 617-247-0220

· Samaritans Statewide Toll Free Helpline 877-870-HOPE (4673)

· Teens: 800-252-TEEN (8336)

· Crisis Text Line: Text “LISTEN” to 741-741