Connor's Climb Returns September 14th

Connor’s Climb Announces Annual 5K Run and Family Walk
Event to Benefit Suicide Awareness to be held September 14

August 28, 2014 -- Connor’s Climb, a Will To Live Foundation event, returns on Sunday, September 14th to continue the important work of suicide education and prevention in New Hampshire. This year’s race will take place at Exeter High School, and coincide with the final day of National Suicide Prevention Week. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 14-24 in New Hampshire, and it is the mission of Connor’s Climb to change that.

The second running of Connors Climb kicks off at 9:00 a.m. and is expected to be a wonderful family event raising awareness and hope in the Seacoast area. All proceeds raised will go to teen suicide prevention and education programs in New Hampshire.

Last year’s race raised over $18,000 and nearly 500 people attended, including Governor Hassan. The funds have been used to train nearly 60 educators from 30 New Hampshire schools in suicide education and prevention. Additionally, approximately 25 New Hampshire schools have been provided with Screening for Mental Health’s SOS Signs of Suicide® Prevention Program, an evidence-based universal education tool. Another training will take place in the fall of 2014.

“To see something so positive come from such a tragedy was very inspiring. So many people, educators, students, and their families will benefit from the fund raised by Connor’s Climb,” said Candice Porter, Executive Director of Screening for Mental Health, Inc.

Former Red Sox pitcher John Trautwein, founder of the Will To Live Foundation, will be back in Exeter for the race and to share his Life Teammates message. “We all have Teammates in our lives today. Someone we share or have shared a dream with, someone we go through successes and failures with. The Life Teammates Program teaches kids to recognize those Life Teammates now - and encourages them to turn to each other in times of needs.”

John played professional baseball for seven years after graduating from Northwestern University where he played with Yankees Manager Joe Girardi. John spent four years in the Expos organization and three years with the Red Sox organization including being a member of the 1988 Boston big league pitching staff.

“The Will To Live Foundation is so proud to again be a part of Connor’s Climb. What it represents, the concept of teammates working together to honor a friend and a loved one, is exactly what the foundation is about. I can’t wait to be there. The issues and stigmas surrounding mental health issues, like depression, need to be talked about and brought out in the open, so we don’t lose more wonderful kids like my son Will and Connor Ball (of New Hampshire) to teen suicide,” said John Trautwein.

To register for the race or family walk visit www.will-to-live.org//foundation-events/connorsclimb/.

About the Will to Live Foundation
Will-To-Live Foundation is a non-profit foundation that is dedicated to preventing teen suicide and improving the lives and “Will To Live” of teenagers everywhere. WTL does this through education, motivation, consultation, charity, support and most importantly love and fellowship. WTL works for and through young adults to help them always find the good in life and a “Will To Live” through all of life’s trials.