BRIMFIELD, Ill. – Help is available to people who have entered a dark moment in their lives is among the messages provided through Whitney’s Walk.
The 22nd annual Whitney’s Walk for Suicide Prevention and Awareness stepped off Saturday at Jubilee State Park, The event consists of a 5k timed run and a 5k walk.
Whitney’s Walk is named in memory of Whitney Grotts of Brimfield, who died by suicide in 2004 at the age of 16.
Early morning showers and storms cleared away in time for a dry event for the runners. However, rain retuned as the walkers finished the final mile of their trek through the park.
All proceeds from Whitney’s Walk stay in Central Illinois to fund educational resources and programming about mental health and suicide prevention.
Nicole Hayse, from Carle Health’s Center for Philanthropy, says all proceeds from the event stay in Central Illinois.
“(Whitney’s Walk) helps to raise awareness and funding to provide prevention initiatives for suicide prevention,” Hayse says.
Saturday’s Whitney’s Walk raised $73,000 as of the start of the event. Donations toward this year are still be accepted through December 31.
Whitney’s Walk has raised a total of $1.9 million since 2004.
