By Keely Fresh
Contributing Writer
The Center for Student Wellness and the Cattaraugus County Suicide Prevention Coalition are collaborating to hold the inaugural Run 4 Life 5K, a run or walk for suicide awareness and prevention.
Organized as an attempt to raise money for local suicide prevention efforts, the Director of Student Wellness Chris Anderson, MSEd., LMHC, said that making people aware of the issue of suicide is the biggest objective.
“We are trying to bring awareness to the problem of suicide as a way of educating folks and also making sure people are aware there are great sources available,” said Anderson. “We live in stressful times, so we just want to make people aware that they don’t have to resort to something as drastic as suicide.”
All proceeds from the 5K will go to the County Suicide Coalition to make suicide education more readily available. Information will be presented with programming and pamphlets.
While the monetary proceeds will benefit the county directly, Anderson said that they continue to have a collaborative effort between the school and the coalition. Not only will the increase of information help those in the community, but also inform students about the resources St. Bonaventure has readily available.
“The more we can be proactive and teaching students, so that the students are aware of what is going on in terms of what we have to offer in the event they start to feel stress, the more we can be preventative,” said Anderson.
Anderson said that college can be one of the most drastic changes a person may experience. He also detailed the importance of informing students about where to go if they ever feel overwhelmed.
“The changes are big, the stressors are there and we just want to make sure people are aware to say, ‘Hey, if it gets too heavy, come over and see us,’” said Anderson.
By being proactive in organizing events and raising awareness to the community, the center is looking to become a readily recognized resource for all students.
In hosting a 5K, Anderson said that it is an apolitical way to bring together people over something we can all agree on.
“It’s a good way to rally people around a particular cause or event,” said Anderson. “It’s a nice way of bringing community engagement in addition to Bonaventure engagement.”
With both the Student Wellness Center and the Cattaraugus County Suicide Prevention Coalition working together, they hope for a good turnout so they can expand the event in future years.
Pre-registration will continue up to the morning of the race, with costs starting at $15 for a student (21 and under), $25 for an adult (over 21) and $75 for a team of four people. If registering at the race, there will be a $5 increase for the entrance fee.
Registration begins at 9 a.m., with the race starting at 10 a.m. in the parking lot adjacent to the Hickey Dining Hall and Shay-Loughlen dorms. Participants are asked to park in the lot near the tennis courts.
freshkg15@bonaventure.edu
