In the United States there are 100 suicides every day with one occurring every 14 minutes. The 10th Annual Whitney’s Walk For Life to raise money for suicide prevention will be held on Saturday, July 27 at Jubilee College State Park near Brimfield, Illinois. There will be a 5K run at 7:55 a.m. and a 5K walk to begin at 8:00 a.m. Proceeds from the event support Mental Health America of Illinois Valley and their programs including mental health screenings, depression awareness and suicide prevention programs.
The registration fee for the Run or the Walk is $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 years and under. Teams can be formed with a minimum of 5 walkers, runners or donors who together raise at least $250. Registration for the event can be made online through Thursday, July 25th at www.whitneyswalk.com. Registration can also be done on the day of the event from 6:45 to 7:30 a.m. for runners and 7:00 to 7:45 a.m. for walkers. Donations from those who cannot participate are also welcome and can be made online or by mailing a check to Whitney’s Walk, 5407 N. University, Peoria, IL 61614.
T-shirt pick-up for Whitney’s Walk walkers and runners will be Friday, July 19th from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Brimfield Fire Department or Saturday, July 20th from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the center court at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie. Participants may register after those dates but cannot be guaranteed a t-shirt.
Whitney’s Walk for Life was organized in 2004 in loving memory of 16-year-old Whitney Ann Grotts of Brimfield. She was a bright, beautiful young lady of with a promising future who, tragically, fell victim to suicide. Since that first walk, over $700,000 has been raised by Whitney’s Walk for Life. Ninety percent of proceeds are administered through Mental Health America of Illinois Valley and ten percent of proceeds are distributed to the Whitney Grotts Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois.
Statistically, suicide is the third leading cause of death among individuals from 15 to 24 years of age and suicide rates are extremely high in those 65 and older, but suicide occurs in all age groups, both sexes and every geographic region of this country.
Recovery from mental illness is not only possible but it is probable with 70 to 90% of those who receive help going on to lead healthy, productive lives. For more information, call Mental Health America of Illinois Valley at 309-692-1766.