Suicide prevention 5K race to be held on campus this Saturday

Emotions in Motion 5K, a run and walk for mental health and suicide prevention awareness, will take place 11 a.m. Saturday, March 21 at University of Richmond.

This is the third consecutive year that the university will host the race, which raises funds for the non-profit organization Suicide Awareness Voices of Education. Registration for the run/walk will be at 10 a.m. Saturday and there will be an entry fee of $20 for community members and $10 for university students and children under age 12.

The goal of this event is to facilitate a discussion on campus about suicide prevention, said Megan Kroger, senior and co-chair of Emotions in Motion 5K in Richmond. 

Kroger said although depression and suicide are prevalent amongst college campuses, the topic is often a taboo one.

“We want to put as positive a spin on suicide prevention as we can so that people can see it’s not something they should hide or refuse to talk about,” Kroger said.

Kroger said she hoped the event will be a positive one. She doesn’t want people to feel tense because of the seriousness of the cause, and wants participants to have a positive attitude and have fun, she said. 

According to SAVE’s website, the organization initially formed from a small group of passionate survivors and is now one of the leading national not-for-profit organizations with staff dedicated to prevent suicide. SAVE’s work is based on the foundation and belief that suicide should no longer be considered a taboo topic and through raising awareness and educating the public, lives can be saved.

There will be multiple flags around campus on Saturday with information about suicide prevention, Kroger said, which will serve the purpose of bringing the topic to the forefront of people’s minds.

“Suicide is 100 percent preventable, but only if those who need help seek it,” Kroger said. “People should know there are resources available.”

Kroger initially became involved with this event during her sophomore year, when Melissa Diamond, Kroger’s roommate at the time, suggested working together. Since then, they have both been in charge of organizing the race each year.

Participants may register to walk or run the race by themselves or they may form a team and complete the race together. There will be prizes for the winners of the race and raffles, and all proceeds will go to SAVE.

Those who are interested in registering for Emotions in Motion 5K online or making a donation to support the cause may do so by visiting this page.