Samaritans' 5K Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention

Date: September 4th, 2015 Contact: Steve Mongeau

617-536-2460

(Boston) – More than 3,000 runners, walkers, families and team members will support Samaritans’ mission to prevent suicide at the 5K Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention on Saturday, September 26th along the Charles River. Samaritans’ staff, volunteers and 5K participants are excited for the 17th 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.

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 Shane’s Team. Team Captain, John Roderick, created the team in honor of his beloved son, Shane Roderick, who tragically died by suicide last year. Shane’s mother, Cheryl Roderick, recently expressed, “Last year at this time of the walk I was still in shock or in a fog. I remember I really didn’t want to do the 5K, but I dragged myself, and it ended up being a great experience. I thought it would be too sad or painful, but it was more of a celebration of Shane’s life. One year later as I sit here getting ready to walk I am in a completely difference place. I am looking forward to the walk and I am looking forward to being surrounded by people who understand exactly what our family has gone through. I am looking forward to celebrating Shane’s life with family and friends who remember Shane and his beautiful smile and impish personality. One year later our family is in a much better place. It has been a very very tough year but I can honestly say we are much better than last year. Last year grief controlled me and my every thought. This year I control my grief. I decide when I want to sit and cry for the most part. I set time out for grieving and thinking about and talking to Shane. I wanted you to let people know it is possible to be better or okay. It is still very very painful but you can get control of your grief with the help of family and friends. All of the people who are running/walking and the people who have donated and been there for us have no idea who much it means to us that they are there and remembering our son. A fear of a lot of survivors is that their loved one will be forgotten, and by supporting us during this 5K is a way of letting us know they remember our sweet boy.”

You can help Samaritans’ reach their fundraising goal, and help spread awareness about suicide prevention at this year’s 5K. 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

This event is not just a memorial of those who have died by suicide, but a celebration of their lives. This day does not have to be one focused solely on mourning, rather aims to make the race, a joyful day. The family fun festival will be an exciting time, filled with children’s activities, face painting, prize giveaways and for the first time this year, food carts!

More about Samaritans

Samaritans is a locally based non-profit organization, and all of the proceeds generated from the 5K stay in Massachusetts to 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. All of Samaritans’ services are free to those in need.

Samaritans is a premier suicide prevention organization serving the Greater Boston and Metrowest areas. For over 40 years, Samaritans volunteers have answered more than 1.5 million phone calls to its 24/7 and Samaritans 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 contact the business office at 617-536-2460 or info@samaritanshope.org

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