Suicide Prevention Walk Scheduled For Sunday, April 30

A suicide prevention and awareness walk has been scheduled for Sunday, April 30 in Bristol Township.

The #HoldOnYouMatter Walk will support the Bucks County Suicide Prevention Task Force in the group’s goal to raise awareness and prevent suicides.

This is the second annual #HoldOnYouMatter Walk, according to Dawn Seader, the walk coordinator.

“We had a really strong turnout last year, and we raised more than $40,000,” she said.

This year, the goal is to raise $40,000.

“It’s been a lot of work but we think it will be just as successful,” Seader said.

One of the main objectives of the walk is recruiting high school students and raising their awareness of the issue of suicide. Last year, organizers found teams forming in memory of people who were lost to suicide.

Organizers said students from the Neshaminy, Bristol Township, Pennsbury, Bensalem, Centennial, Palisades, Pennridge and Morrisville school district will be participating along with students from Conwell-Egan Catholic High School and Bucks County Technical High School.

The growing numbers of suicides in high schools are one of the main reasons the outreach focuses on students.

Although the event is making an outreach effort to the high schools, organizers want the walk to be a broader community event.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to honor a loved one or friend lost to suicide, advocate mental wellness, and stand up against the stigma of suicide,” Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia said. “In addition, all of the money raised stays in Bucks County to fund efforts of suicide prevention.”

The walk is scheduled for April 30 at the Bucks County Technical High School at 610 Wistar Road in Fairless Hills. On site registration and check in begins at 9 a.m. while the walk is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

To register as a walker, click here.