Press Release – Los Angeles, Calif. (Aug. 29, 2016) – Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services proudly announces that Suzy Favor Hamilton, a three-time Olympian whose brother died by suicide, will speak and lead the pre-race warm up at its18th Annual Alive & Running Walk Run for Suicide Prevention. The event takes place at West 88th Street and La Tijera Boulevard, just north of Los Angeles International Airport, on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016; the pre-race program begins at 7:30 am; the race, at 8 am.
Alive & Running is an inspiring gathering that remembers loved ones and raises money and awareness for the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center. The family-friendly event also includes a Health & Wellness EXPO to educate people about suicide, as well as live music, a raffle, and a Kiddie-K. It is expected to draw more than 2,000 runners and walkers and to raise about $350,000 for the center.
Hamilton, a seven-time U.S. National Champion and record nine-time NCAA Champion runner, wrote the New York Times Bestselling memoir, Fast Girl – A Life Spent Running from Madness, which details her life with mental illness, the effects of her misdiagnosis, her brother’s death by suicide and her own suicide attempt.
“Suzy Favor Hamilton’s openness about her brother’s suicide and her own struggle with bipolar disorder and depression raises awareness and inspires others to seek help,” said Didi Hirsch President/CEO Dr. Kita S. Curry, PhD. “We are grateful Suzy is sharing her family’s story at Alive & Running.”
The Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center was the first in the nation to study suicide and to provide a 24-hour suicide prevention hotline. Now a renowned leader in training, research and services, the Center helps people thinking about suicide, concerned loved ones and those who have attempted or are grieving a loss. The Center’s multilingual crisis line answered more than 70,000 calls/chats/texts nationwide in 2015 and is one of three that takes calls on the national Disaster Distress Helpline.
Over the years, Alive & Running has raised over $2.2 million for the Suicide Prevention Center, which provides lifesaving services to people who have thought about, attempted or lost someone to suicide. Proceeds from the event send staffers to the scene of a suicide, fund eight-week support groups for people who have attempted suicide or are grieving a loss and provide chat counselors to teens in crisis who otherwise wouldn’t call for support.
The Fletcher Family Foundation is the event’s Presenting Sponsor. Platinum Sponsors include The Kluft Family and Andrew E. Rubin. Didi Hirsch Board members Pamela Kluft and Andrew E. Rubin are the event’s co-chairs.
DIDI HIRSCH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
About to celebrate its 75th anniversary, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services has been a leading provider of community mental health and substance use services since 1942. Dedicated to serving communities where stigma or poverty limits access, Didi Hirsch helps more than 90,000 children and adults each year from 11 locations and 100 schools in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura Counties. Founded in 1958, the the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center is the nation’s first and a world leader in training, research and services for people who have thought about, attempted or lost someone to suicide.
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