Over 100 Barton Community College students participated in the tenth annual “Golden Belt Glow 4 Life” 5K run/walk to help raise money to promote suicide awareness and prevention on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Veterans Park. The Central Kansas Partnership Suicide Prevention Task Force put on the event.

Student registrations, along with an official sponsorship, raised $3,350 for the cause.

Barton Community College Mental Health Counselor Jakki Maser said it’s important to raise awareness about suicide.

“I am so proud of the number of students that showed up for the event,” she said. “We are seeing that students care about this cause deeply, as it seems that unfortunately, an increasing number have been personally affected by a suicide loss at some point in their lives.”

Maser said although suicide is a very difficult topic to discuss, knowledge is key to saving lives and silence can have tragic results.

“Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 34,” she said. “Suicide rates have been increasing steadily over the last 15 years and in 2021, a state of emergency was declared for youth and adolescent mental health. Now, more than ever, it is important to increase efforts to improve awareness and prevention.”

For more information, contact Maser at maserj@bartonccc.eduor 620-792-9295.