Walk For Hope adds virtual component for 2021

Published by Logan Tuttle 3 years ago on Mon, Mar 8, 2021 2:40 PM
The third annual Walk For Hope, hosted by the Seward County Suicide Prevention Coalition, will take place March 19-21, to offer encouragement and hope to those affected by suicide and also provides resources to Seward County residents.

The third annual Walk For Hope, hosted by the Seward County Suicide Prevention Coalition, will take place March 19-21, to offer encouragement and hope to those affected by suicide and also provides resources to Seward County residents.

Participants are encouraged to walk in remembrance of someone they may have lost to suicide, or in support of others who have lost loved ones to suicide, and will be asked to share photos of their walks on social media with the hashtags #SewardCoWalk4Hope21 and #everyOnecounts. Community members are asked to walk at least one mile, because every one really matters, Andreea Baker, director of Concordia’s wellness center and a member of the Coalition, said. Those interested in participating can register at this link.

“We’ve been seeing a lot of participation from Concordia students as well as more involvement throughout the community,” Baker said. “We want to keep up the momentum this year, especially during this time, and let those who are struggling know there are people out there who can help them and provide them with resources.”

Walk For Hope has been an important event the last two years, but it’s needed even more now, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kathleen von Kampen, Concordia’s director of counseling services and vice president of the Coalition, said.

“Overall, we know anxiety and depression has increased across populations, not just on college campuses, but also within our communities,” von Kampen said. “We believe that anything we can do to bring awareness and bring people together, even if it’s virtually, to feel like they’re a part of something is important right now.”

On Saturday, March 20, there will be a campus-only walk for Concordia students, faculty, staff and families, starting at 7 p.m. at the Bulldog Stadium track, with the glow walk starting at 8 p.m.

For more information about the Coalition, please contact president Jeff Baker at jbaker@vfwne.org.