By Renae Elsaesser, staff writer
Registration is officially open for the Light the Night 5k For Suicide Prevention. This event will take place on April 8 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Oakland Mills High School. Chloe McGeehan, a senior at River Hill High School, organized this event in hopes of bringing mental health awareness to Howard County.
It all started with “a passion after being touched by the statistics of suicide in our community,” Chloe said.
Since the start of the school year, Chloe has worked endlessly to bring this event to action.
After receiving the Howard County recreation and parks student position, she started planning the 5k.
Chloe shared that she “coordinated with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Grassroots, and Bullseye Running.”
Participating in the event does not mean that you have to run in the 5k. There will be other activities to engage in and food trucks to enjoy.
Chloe emphasizes that her goal for the event is to change the community’s “outlook on mental health to be equally a part of community success as physical health and other attributes as well as its bringing together so many community members and stakeholders in suicide prevention.”
Leah Bulka, a social worker and behavioral health navigator at the Howard County Health Department has worked alongside Chloe in planning this event.
Leah highlights that suicide prevention is the responsibility of a community to ensure that people receive the resources and help they need.
“Suicide is a complex issue and it takes a village to address it effectively, which I think you can see reflected in Chloe’s planning efforts,” Bulka claims.
Buying a ticket for the 5k is a great way to show support, raise awareness, and spread the message that “we care about those who are struggling in darkness,” Chloe says.
Bulka recognizes Chloe for her leadership in this project and says that she “has worked extremely hard to bring in stakeholders like me to get this event off the ground.”
Leah believes this event is important because “we all have mental health that needs to be nurtured and cared for in order to thrive.”
Chloe “knew a 5k would be a really cool way to just start conversations and show community support.”
Register today for the Light The Night 5K with the link below
http://www.bullseyerunning.com/event/light-the-night-5k-for-suicide-prevention/