Suicide Prevention Awarenessby
The Journey to Hope team will be busy over the next month organizing a wide variety of events in conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. Diana Fall is a member of the team. She says the team and its members support one another and the community at large. “Most of us have suffered a loss through suicide and are survivors. The same thing happened to our family—one of my sons lost a very dear friend a year ago. That started our Journey to Hope. We have been healing through discussion and communication with the public and with each other. It has really helped,” said Fall. “It is amazing how many people you talk to about the journey because everyone shares a story. It is really sad how many people are affected.” The team has several activities lined up and there is a number of ways that you can get involved. Fundraising is an important component of the group’s activities. You can purchase a “Sole for Hope” from South Hill Fine Foods for just $1. They are similar to Telemiracle’s Helping Hands that are sold in stores each year. The event will once again include the Ray Bell Memorial Raffle. This year’s prize is a signed Levi Steinhauer Riders jersey. Only 2,500 tickets will be sold. Tickets cost $2 apiece and are available at the W.J. Jones & Son Family Resource Centre. The Journey to Hope team is also holding a Rib and Caesar fundraising dinner on Friday, September 5 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Smitty’s and Bugsy’s in the mall. Tickets cost $12 and can be purchased by calling Bren at 306-691-4715 or Diana at 306-631-0732. Funds are used to provide resource materials and support to local organizations, and by offering programs on suicide prevention through the Moose Jaw branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Five Hills Health Region. Mayor Deb Higgins will sign a proclamation on September 3, officially recognizing September 10 as Suicide Prevention Day. Other events include Cycle Around the Globe for World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the YMCA (Athabasca location). The goal is to collectively cycle the circumference of the globe and to have participants cycling on every continent. You can text 306-630-4626 for more information on how you can participate. Another initiative that will take place on September 10 is providing local students in grades 6-12 with special “Hope” wristbands. The team has also challenged the schools to encourage students to wear yellow that day in support of the cause. In fact, Fall says they would like to see people across the city wearing yellow in support of suicide
prevention. “That will be awesome,” said Fall, who adds that the team would not be able to do so much without the support of W.J. Jones & Son. “We are hoping to make it a yellow day and that the entire city will be painted yellow in support.” Of course, the Journey to Hope walk, itself, will be held on Saturday, September 27 at 10:00 a.m. in Crescent Park. Fall hopes that a number of people will come out to show their support. She says it is truly a time for healing. “We hope to have a good turnout,” said Fall. “It is not a strenuous walk; it is just a walk around the park. It is about getting together and communicating.” Fall says that participating in the walk last year inspired her to get more involved with the team by raising awareness and funds for suicide prevention. She is glad to be a part of the Journey to Hope team. “If we can help one person, then, that is great. The group has certainly helped us.”