For the third year, Fairmont State University will host the annual “Kickin’ It for Katy 5k run/walk” and its companion event, “Stomp Out the Stigma.” These events will be held on April 27th with the aim of spreading awareness and support for suicide prevention and mental health care.
Registration for the 5k begins at 9 a.m. and the race begins at 10 a.m. on the Fairmont State University campus. Participants note that this is a timed race. Stomp Out the Stigma, as organizers have dubbed the afterparty, will begin after the 5k.
“This event was created to spread suicide awareness and come together as a community,” said Gina Dixon, one of the event coordinators. She said, “I want people to know that it’s okay to not be okay.”
Since losing her granddaughter Katie to suicide in 2021, Dixon has been active in raising awareness of suicide and educating the community about prevention. “So many people struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts. They need to know they are not alone,” Dixon said.
New this year is sponsorship by the Monongahela Valley Health Center Association, making more activities available at the event.
“This year, we are excited to partner with our gold sponsor, MVA, to make the event even more exciting,” said Chelsea Collins, director of student health at Fairmont State University. “There will be live music, various food trucks and live radio.”
People can enjoy live music and delicious food while learning more about suicide warning signs and how to help a friend in need.
Collins said it all comes down to community involvement. “Through the power of music, food and media, we can amplify our message and reach more people.”
Proceeds from this event will benefit the Caitlin Jade Forensic Medicine Memorial Scholarship, a fund that provides a scholarship to one Fairmont State University student each year to study forensic science, which was Katie’s major at Fairmont State University. .
The number of participants in the 5k run/walk has increased every year since its inception in 2022. “The community is what makes us successful,” Dixon said. “We are now an official nonprofit organization with a board of directors. And Kickin it for Katy is now part of the Marion County Race Series.”
In the past two years, the group has raised about $25,000. “All scholarships will be donated after this year’s race,” Dixon explained. “We will be awarding our first Forensic Science Scholarship this fall. Once the scholarship reaches $25,000, a scholarship will be awarded to one student each year, ensuring that Katie’s legacy will live on forever.” It will be.”
At the end of the 5k, the after party “Stomp Out the Stigma” begins. “This is a celebration of courage and resilience,” Collins said. “This is a testament to the strength of seeking help for mental health issues. This is a path forward to destigmatizing discussions about mental health.”
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), nearly half of college students in the United States have been diagnosed or treated for depression.
“Our aim is to erase the shadows of shame and negative emotions that can overshadow help-seeking,” Collins said. “Together, we honor the lives lost to suicide and foster a community of understanding, empathy, and unwavering support for those on their mental health journeys.”
Dixon has seen an increase in the number of people actively seeking help for mental health issues. “More and more people want to participate because they are struggling or have suffered from mental illness or suicide,” she says. “We currently have as many volunteers as participants.”
Organizers said the two events are open to anyone, not just Fairmont State University students. “This is a community event that brings everyone together to raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health,” Collins said. “We hope this will be a beacon of hope for everyone to come together, not just to run, but to champion a cause.”
“This is really special,” Dixon said. “For our students, our community, and our future leaders,” she added, in memory of her granddaughter, “to run as fast as you can to honor her life.”
For more information, please visit https://kickinitforkaty.com/.
If you or someone you know is at risk of a mental health crisis:
- Call or text 988.
- Please call 911.
- Fairmont State University Emergencies: 304-367-4357 (Help).
- Fairmont State University Student Health Services: Call 304-367-4155 during business hours. Same-day reservations are also welcome and can often be accommodated.
- Online resource for students: ulifeline.org/fairmontstate.
