The Second Annual Run for Hope, a run/walk event for suicide awareness and prevention, will take place in Chippewa Falls Saturday, March 30. Chippewa Falls High School seniors Will Butak, Aidan Detienne, and Joe Forster said they noticed a need for suicide awareness in the area after doing research last year for a competition through the student group HOSA-Future Health Professionals. “We’ve all been touched by suicide,” Butak said. “We realized that everyone’s really touched by it. And we feel like our community can really grab onto that and they can support us as we support them, and we can all raise money to get resources to people.” Despite falling on the day after an early April blizzard in 2018, last year’s event attracted about 125 participants. “It made for an interesting morning,” Detienne said. “There was a lot of salting the sidewalks.” The students said they are hoping for an even bigger turnout this year, but the unpredictability of spring weather will likely be a determining factor. The non-competitive event runs from 10am to 2pm and will include a 5K and 2-mile run or walk option. “You don’t need to be a big running person,” Butak said. “We have food. We have booths for resources there.” Proceeds will go to benefit Prevent Suicide Chippewa Falls and Vets Fighting 4 Vets, an organization dedicated to preventing suicide among veterans. Pre-registration will begin the week before the event at Chippewa Falls High School, but participants can also sign up on the day of the event. 

Second Annual Run for Hope • Saturday, March 30 • 10am • Chippewa Falls High School • $20 in advance, $25 the day of the event • www.facebook.com/RunForHope5k2mile/