5K Run for Suicide Prevention at Midland College
By: Alanna Quillen
Updated: March 4, 2012
In response to recent suicides, Midland College Student Activities hosted a suicide prevention 5K run on Saturday, bringing hundreds out to show their support.
"Because there's been so much affect in our community and such a big impact, we've been able to have a word of mouth spreading of this," said Carl Moore, Student Government president.
The 5K run started in Beal Plaza, lapping twice around the campus. Organizers originally hoped 50 people would attend, raising $500.
Instead, more than 200 people came to show their support.
"You don't have to suffer alone," Moore said. "If there's a problem or a struggle that we can talk about, and that you're not just alone by yourself."
Wendy Boyd knows how it feels to lose someone to suicide. She lost her son, Brandon, in November.
"We're here to support and to try to stop suicide, because it's gotten carried away in Midland," Boyd said. "We're here to support everybody, not just Brandon."
One hundred percent of the proceeds from the run will be donated to the suicide prevention program at centers for children and families.
"A lot of these things are preventable if you're watching and interacting with people," said Larry Massey, Brandon's grandfather. "And if you care enough, maybe we can save some people."


