By Sara Haimowitz | Director of Development
Thanks so much to Betsy LeBlanc for her fundraising effort for Umatter and the VT Suicide Prevention Center!
Betsy is implemeting a community awareness project called: "No One Has to Walk Alone". Her mission is to foster an open conversation about suicide and the surrounding mental health issues in an inclusive, stigma free environment so that "no one has to walk alone."
According to the Vermont Suicide Prevention Center, Vermont has the 11th highest rate of suicide in the nation, with 118 suicides in 2016, an average of two deaths per week. However, because of societal stigma, these deaths are often not reported or mentioned in obituaries, with the result that suicide is not recognized for the public health crisis that it is.
This July, Betsy, with her dog Sam, will hike the 272 mile Long Trail, one our country's most beautiful and challenging long distance trails. She is hiking to support Umatter Suicide prevention, a national best practices program.
Betsy has created a special fundraising page here on the Global Giving site. The public is encouraged to follow Betsy and Sam's progress by visiting the "No One Has Walk Alone" page, like her page on Facebook and share it and follow her on Instagram @elisabeth_betsy_leblanc.
By supporting "No One Has to Walk Alone' we can work together as a community to understand and prevent suicide.
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