My friend, Denise, is running in the NYC Marathon this year and she’s running for Team Samaritans.
If you aren’t familiar with Samaritans here’s a little information about them – https://samaritanshope.org/
For 50 years, Samaritans has provided lifesaving suicide prevention services in Massachusetts. Founded in Boston by Monica Dickens in 1974, Samaritans follows the principles of befriending established by Samaritans in the United Kingdom. While Samaritans offices all over the world share a common suicide prevention mission and philosophy, we operate independently from one another.
In the last 50 years, our volunteers have answered more than 3 million calls, chats, and texts from people who are struggling. Samaritans has trained more than 6,500 volunteers, provided suicide prevention workshops to 180,000 people, and supported 17,000 suicide loss survivors in their grief journeys.
Here’s Denise’s story and her why for running
We must speak up about those lost to suicide to bring hope to fellow suicide loss survivors.
My Mom, Virginia Stokinger, died by suicide June 3, 2022. She was the epitome of a mama-bear, loving, and kind. She loved classic cars, motorcycles, gardening, animals, and above all, her grandson. Mom also struggled for decades with mental health issues. Bipolar disorder is more understood today than it was in the 80s and 90s. For as long as I can remember, I have always been hard on myself, blaming myself for family situations that were out of my control. Although Mom and I were struggling at the same time, we both felt too ashamed to open up. The worst part is, we didn’t even talk to each other about our feelings.
To lose her in this manner is unfathomable. It is a finality difficult to accept. It has left behind a desperate longing to understand the rationale and insanity behind mental illness. Her death has marred us in significant, painful and permanent ways. Suicide is a complicated end and compounds with it an array of feelings and stigma. Samaritans aims to end the stigma around suicide and mental illness.
This silent epidemic is catastrophic. If talking about it, exposing it, shouting it from the rooftops, will help even one person find a way to talk about their pain, a difference can and must be made. To help others understand, we must reach out to family members, friends and strangers. Show kindness, an openness to talk and, more importantly, to listen, to see, to hear without judgement. If only to save one family from the pain and anguish of losing a loved one through bringing awareness to this tragic and senseless loss of life.
I am running in honor of my Mom, the countless others who struggle with mental health illness, and fellow suicide loss survivors. You can help save lives by supporting my participation on Samaritans 2024 TCS New York City Marathon Team.
Denise and her mom, Virginia, when Denise was a kid.
If you are interested in donating please follow this link and help Denise get to her goal – https://support.samaritanshope.org/fundraiser/5460538 any donation, big or small, helps.
All proceeds help fund Samaritans’ life saving services. Because of support from generous donors like you, Samaritans is able to make these vital services available to the community free of charge.
Need to talk? Samaritans is here to listen. Call or text (877) 870-4673 (HOPE) or simply dial 988.
