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- 5k participant JoAngela Gates and friend arrive early at Bronson Park, Sept. 25, and wait for the commencement of the Gryphon Place Suicide Prevention walk.
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- Paw Paw resident Brenda Hess and her family register for the Suicide Prevention Walk. They walk to remember their lost loved one.
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- CEO Maricela Alcala expresses her gratitude for the community’s support and announces the beginning of the Gryphon Place Suicide Prevention 5k.
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- Participants being the Gryphon Place Suicide Prevention 5k at 10 a.m. Many participants carry signs expressing love and support for the community or to pay tribute to lost loved ones. This sign states, “I walk to remind everyone we need another day with you.”
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- Participants walked through the neighborhoods of Kalamazoo to show their support for suicide prevention. Here a young man is participating in the 5k despite being injured.
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- As walkers make their way back to Bronson Park, the celebration starts. They are greeted by jazz music and games while food trucks start lining down South Street.
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- Event and volunteer manager Jennifer Cooley coordinated this year’s Gryphon Place Suicide Prevention 5k. This year had the highest number of participants, reaching close to 600 participants. Gryphon Place smashed their goal of raising $65,000 for their organization.
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- Vice President of Impact, Jacquis Robertson, explains that Gryphon Place has experienced a higher frequency of crisis calls during the pandemic. She describes Gryphon Place as a “collaborative, cross functional, and relationship-oriented organization to increase programmatic quality community collaboration, and overall impact.” She thinks hosting events such as the suicide prevention walk, to break the stigmatization surrounding suicide can only have a positive impact on the community.
