![footwear-on-female-feet-running-on-road-5](https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2181/2024/04/23010945/walk-safe-2.webp)
Set for September 21 in Baroda is a 5K run and walk to benefit the Berrien County Suicide Prevention Coalition.
Coalition Chair Brittany Frenchko tells us “Stay; Your Story’s Not Over” will take runners throughout the Baroda area to raise funds for the group.
“In the morning, we’ll gather all the runners downtown Baroda,” Frenchko said. “We’ll have a couple of words in the morning and we’ll have a ton of volunteers around, some resource tables for anybody to take a look at, visitors or family and friends that come with the participant, and then we’ll kick off the run and walk.”
They last held a run and walk pre-COVID, and Frenchko says they’re glad to get started again. The last event attracted about 150 participants as Frenchko says suicide is something that has touched many lives in Berrien County.
“Depending on the year, it can be, the 10th leading cause or maybe even the 12th, I think was in 2023. And so in our county, we see somewhere around 20 per year, and that number has tended to increase year over year.”
Everyone is welcome to take part in the run and walk, whether an accomplished runner or a beginner. Children are also welcome. It’s $35 to take part. You can register right here.
Frenchko notes a concert set for next Saturday will also help raise money for the Berrien County Suicide Prevention Coalition. The 2024 TruDat Music Festival will be Saturday at Christ Lutheran School in Stevensville. More information is available here.