One life is too many to lose by suicide. PPSPP provides free suicide support services to prevent suicide across the Pikes Peak Region. The Race Against Suicide (RAS) serves as our largest annual fundraiser to help make this happen.
RAS 2020, like many things, has been modified this year to address COVID-19 and ensure that anyone who wants to participate can. The virtual event runs September 13th-Septemeber 20th so that participants can complete their run/walk on their own time at the location of their choice.
PPSPP will have some recommended locations where suicide prevention awareness signs will be posted. Racers can take a pic of themselves with the sign and submit it with their finishing time. Race participants are encouraged to build teams and spread the word about the event as this helps our goal to spread awareness about suicide prevention.
In addition to raising awareness, RAS 2020 will also have a memorial tree planting to remember those we have lost to suicide as part of our closing ceremony for the live event. The closing ceremony will include keynote speaker, Leon Kelly, El Paso County Coroner, and the Memorial Tree Planting hosted by the Heartbeat Survivor Group. Participants can submit the name of the lost loved one, along with a message or memory, that will be transcribed on biodegradable paper and planted with the tree. Each name submitted will be read aloud. The closing ceremony will be live-streamed on Facebook to allow all participants to observe after the final wave on September 20th, at approximately