Participants can run, walk or simply cheer on their friends this weekend at the Emerge 5K, an annual fundraiser benefitting the Boulder County nonprofit Rise Against Suicide.
The 5K will be held from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday at the Boulder Reservoir, 5275 Reservoir Road. There is no cost to register, and day-of registration will be available in person on Sunday.
Jenna Clinchard, executive director of Rise Against Suicide, said the 5K is not only a chance to showcase the benefits of exercise on mental health, but also an opportunity to rally people around the common goal of suicide prevention.
“It’s just about bringing our community together and letting people know that they’re not alone,” Clinchard said.
Rise Against Suicide works with local youth who are at-risk of suicide by connecting them with licensed therapists and covering the costs of sessions. The money raised from the run will support the nonprofit as it continues to serve community members struggling with suicidal thoughts.
“The young person and their family will never see a bill,” Clinchard explained. “We just want to make it as simple as possible to access the mental health care that these young people need and deserve.”
Clinchard said that over the course of this fiscal year, which ends in June, the nonprofit has already received 370 referrals and funded more than 5,000 therapy sessions.
“Our numbers continue to increase year over year,” she said. “So there is a need.”
In addition to the 5K course, those who attend Sunday’s event can enjoy face painting, live music and food trucks. Two University of Colorado Boulder football team members and one CU women’s basketball player will also make an appearance at this year’s run.
“We need to figure out a way to lighten the conversation around suicide,” Clinchard said. “One thing that Rise does, is, we add color, and we add music. It’s about (creating) a safe place to have those conversations.”
This year marks the 15th anniversary of Rise Against Suicide’s founding. Clinchard said the anniversary comes with mixed emotions, but she has been grateful to see the nonprofit’s longevity.
“There’s a part of me that always wishes that our services weren’t needed due to the nature of the young people we serve,” Clinchard said. “I do think it’s a gift that we’re still around 15 years later. Really, it is a big deal, because not a lot of nonprofits can stay around that long.”
During the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the 5K run turned into a virtual event, which posed its own challenges. Still, Clinchard said, plenty of people showed their support.
“We navigated what a virtual run would be like, and it was still successful,” she said. “It was pretty heartwarming, actually, because we had people participate from all over the world.”
Clinchard said there are over 350 people signed up for Sunday’s run as of Tuesday. She anticipates a turnout of around 500 participants this year.
To register for the 5K, visit riseagainstsuicide.org/events.
