The event generally attracts about 300 participants, said Linda Girouard, president of the Owensboro Regional Suicide Prevention Coalition. The group hosts the annual event.

For the online event, participants will register and walk in their neighborhoods instead of meeting at a park. There is no required distance participants have to complete, Girouard said.

“We think the walk is a great benefit because it gets the community talking about (suicide),” she said. “ … People can be intimidated by the topic.”
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, more than 48,300 people nationwide died by suicide in 2018. It is estimated as many as 1.4 million attempts were made. The rate of suicide is on the rise, so awareness is crucial, Girouard said. “We know older white males account for nearly 70% of suicides,” she said.

ORSPC will give away 200 free T-shirts to people who register for the walk. Registration is open now at ORSPC.org.

Direct link: Register yourself and/or your team by clicking on this link:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2020virtualwalk

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