Cross-state suicide awareness run crosses halfway point as The 437 Project nears finish line
Closing ceremony among pair of suicide-related fundraising initiatives on tap this weekend in Sioux Falls
A dozen South Dakotans traveling across their state on foot to raise money and awareness around suicide and mental health are over halfway to the finish line.
Runners with The 437 Project, an annual drive that sends participants on a relay run from one end of the state to the other, reached a milestone on their eastbound journey Friday, crossing the Missouri River before holding ceremonies in the Pierre area.
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After arriving in the capital city, the group was greeted at the American Legion, one of several planned stops in towns that dot their five-day route between the borders of Wyoming and Minnesota.
Launched in 2021 by Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken, the initiative serves to highlight the connection between physical activity and mental health, while inspiring people to donate in support of the Helpline Center, South Dakota’s only accredited suicide crisis center. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the state.
"The mental health crisis is something that needs attention," said Jessica Rumpca, a Pierre healthcare professional participating for the first time in The 437 Project. "People don’t have to suffer in silence."
Others participating include Lisa Larson with Dobesh Chiropractic, Dawn Marie Johnson of the Sioux Falls School Board, Mark Scharnberg with Vance Thompson Vision, Dan Santella of KELOLAND News, Susan Kornder with Northeastern Mental Health, Carmen Peterson with Philip Health Services, Betsy Schuster of Active Generations, Jonathan Buchanan with Avera, John Meyer, director of Leadership South Dakota, Lexi Warejcka of Pierre, and Martin Wennblom, a teacher in Rapid City.
The group, which anticipates exceeding last year’s fundraising total of more than $250,000, will arrive in Sioux Falls Sunday, where a finish line celebration is scheduled downtown at Levitt at the Falls in the afternoon.
Sioux Falls will also play host to the annual Out of the Darkness Community Walk this weekend. The event begins at noon with a program scheduled for 1:30 p.m.. Funds raised as part of the Out of the Darkness Community Walk benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
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While suicide may be preventable, there is another side of the coin. Several states, Oregon, Washington, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Maine and Vermont have passed “death with dignity” laws to allow those with long suffering conditions to seek help in ending that suffering.
We put our pets to sleep when they are suffering, so why not loved ones if that is their desire. Suicide has had a stigma attached to it (purely religious) for centuries. It’s time to get over that stigma.