For Immediate Release

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Media Contact: Jessica Sacco
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Seacoast School of Technology to Host Connor’s Climb to Raise Awareness for Suicide Prevention and Education

EXETER — To help raise awareness for suicide prevention, the Seacoast School of Technology partnered with the Connor’s Climb Foundation to raise money for suicide prevention education.

The public is encouraged to sign up for the seventh annual Connor’s Climb 5K and Family Walk early next month.

WHEN:

Saturday, May 4

• Check in: 8 a.m.
• Race start: 9 a.m.
• Walk start: 9:05 a.m.
• Kids fun run: 10 a.m.

WHERE:

Seacoast School of Technology, 40 Linden St., Exeter

WHAT:

Tara Holmes Ball founded the Connor’s Climb Foundation in 2012 after her son, Connor, a 14-year-old freshman at Exeter High School, died by suicide. Now one of the lead advocates for suicide prevention education in the state, Ball and her team at CCF work to raise awareness and provide education for youth suicide prevention throughout New Hampshire.

CCF also collaborates with teachers and schools, the public and the mental health system to ensure that the young people of New Hampshire have the life-saving resources needed to prevent suicide.

Since the foundation’s launch, more than 30,000 students — along with 700 adults — at 63 New Hampshire schools have gone through a Connor’s Climb suicide prevention program.

“The race is a vital part of the work Connor’s Climb Foundation does because it brings together so many different people who are key to reducing stigma and preventing suicide in New Hampshire,” Ball said. “When our youth, families, educators, loss survivors, community leaders and other stakeholders gather, they aren’t there just to run a race, they’re there to build a stronger community that recognizes mental health is no different, or less important, than physical health. They are helping change the conversation and they are saving lives. Seeing so many members of our community embrace this cause, for seven years now, reinforces the importance of this work.”

In years past, the race has been held at Exeter High School and later the YMCA. With a desire to bring it back to a school campus, CCF collaborated with SST to host the event.

On May 4, there will be more than 50 SST volunteers on site, including Culinary Arts students, who have prepared baked goods for participants and Digital Media Arts, who created signage for the event.

“The work the Connor’s Climb Foundation is doing every day is something that we as educators, parents, students and community members can really rally behind,” SST Principal Margaret Callahan said. “We’re honored to be able to host the 5K this year to help bring awareness to suicide prevention efforts and ultimately save lives.”

Those who wish to register can do so up until the day before the race by visiting connorsclimb.org.

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