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thePeorian.com
Remembering Now May
Save Lives in the Future
Whitney’s Walk For Life aims to prevent teen suicide
By Paul Gordon
Not For Profit
W
hen a teen-aged Brim-
field girl took her own
life eight years ago,
the grief felt by her family and
friends was nearly matched by
the misunderstanding of the act
itself.
They wanted other families to
learn the signs of depression and
possible ways to prevent them
from experiencing the pain and
questions that accompany teen
suicide, the third highest cause
of death among people ages 15
to 24, according to Mental Health
America Illinois Valley.
Whitney’s Walk For Life began
in began in July 2004, mere
months after Whitney Grotts
committed suicide at her home.
It was started by her family but is
now under the purview of Men-
tal Health America Illinois Valley.
It has become that organization’s
chief fundraiser as it strives to
increase suicide prevention ef-
forts in central Illinois, said Jamie
Sanders, development coordina-
tor for MHAIV.
“The family couldn’t believe
the big turnout they had that first
year and it has grown by leaps
and bounds since then. We expect
a record number, at least 1,200,
this year,” she said.
This year’s Whitney’s Walk
For Life is scheduled for Satur-
day, July 28 at Jubilee State Park,
where it originated. It has grown
to the point that there is now a
5K walk and a 5K run, both at
Jubilee. The run begins at 7:55
a.m. and the walk starts five
minutes later. Registration starts
at 6:45 a.m.
The cost to participate is $25
for age 13 and older and $15
for those younger, regardless of
whether they walk or run. Team
registrations also are available,
with fees that range from $500 to
$2,000 or above, depending on
what fundraising level the team
chooses.
Proceeds, as mentioned, go
to the suicide awareness and
prevention programs the MHAIV
puts on and implements in area
schools. Those programs are:
•
Columbia University
TeenScreen: Includes
computerized screening and
linkage case management;
•
QPR (Question, Persuade,
Refer): Suicide Prevention Skills
Training for Gatekeepers;
•
Signs of Suicide (S.O.S.):
Suicide Prevention Skills
Training for Youth.