Sunrise Walk To Raise Funds, Awareness For BTH Foundation

PLEASANTVILLE, NY — The BTH Foundation's “Into the Light” Sunrise Walk will take place Sunday. This is the first annual event for the foundation formed by Brian and Jolina Halloran in memory of their son Brian Thomas Halloran, who committed suicide in January.

Following the tragic loss, the Halloran family, friends and supporters formed the foundation with a plan to help bring the community “into the light” with a better understanding and a plan of action around mental health issues and suicide prevention.

"The reason we started it is because my son could be anyone's child. The problem in today's society is that kids are suffering," Halloran told Patch.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24. Shockingly, four out of five teens who attempt suicide have given clear warning signs.

Recognizing that someone is struggling, and getting them help, are key, Halloran said. "The two keys to intervention are recognize and refer." Sometimes that can take a lot of courage, he said.

Brian Thomas Halloran was a freshman at the University of South Carolina. On their GoFundMe page, the family describes Brian as "kind, loyal, and a giant hugger whose smile and great sense of humor could light up a room. A member of the National Honor Society at PHS, Brian was always open to helping teachers and other kids. He enjoyed music, animals and joking with the “Usual Suspects” and “Skid Row.” He especially loved football, reaching the NYS Semi-Finals in 2016."

"The foundation is energizing, it's positive, but it's also heart-wrenching," his dad said. One of the foundation's goal's is to create a tool kit that will help both high-schoolers and adults recognize problems and act on that knowledge. The other, Halloran said, is to "try to raise the volume" to increase public awareness and understanding. In addition to those two goals, the foundation is establishing a scholarship in Brian Thomas's name to go to a senior at Pleasantville High School who has demonstrated a commitment to mental health advocacy.

The community has overflowed with compassion since his son's death, Halloran said. More than 1,000 people came to the wake and the funeral. "People brought us dinners for two-and-a-half months." And more than 500 people have signed up for the Walk on Sunday. "Getting 500 people to come out and walk at 4:30 in the morning is quite a commitment,"

The walk to "Break the Hold" of mental illness begins at 4:30 a.m. at Pleasantville High School and proceeds for 2.5 miles through the village.

Haven't signed up yet? Visit the event page to register for the Walk. You can also support BTH by donating through GoFundMe. Learn more about the foundation on its website.

Funds raised from this event will be used to provide resources and educational programming on mental wellness to high school youth and parents throughout Westchester and nearby communities and to establish the scholarship in Brian's honor.

PHOTO: Brian Thomas Halloran via GoFundMe. GoFundMe is a Patch partner.