Delamont Country Park to host suicide prevention 10k life run

Delamont Country Park to host suicide prevention 10k life run

8 August 2018

DELAMONT Country Park on the shores of Strangford Lough is hosting a 10k life run next month.

The September 9 event is being organised to raise awareness of World Suicide Prevention Day and sponsored by the Rowallane District Electoral Area forum, in association with All Lives Are Precious  (ALPS) and Downpatrick Boxing Academy.

World Suicide Prevention Day — which takes place the day after the 10K event –  is organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention. 

Since 2003, the special day dedicated to suicide prevention across the world takes place on September 10 and serves as a call to action to individuals and organisations to prevent suicide. 

This year the theme is ‘take a minute, change a life’, with the World Health Organisation estimating that over 800,000 people take their own life each year — that’s one person every 40 seconds, with up to 25 times as many again making a suicide attempt. 

South Down MLA Colin McGrath, who attended the launch of the Delamont event, said he very much welcomes the “amazing work” which continues to be done by ALPS and other suicide prevention charities in this area.

“I would encourage local people to attend the ALPS life run on September 9 in Delamont Park.   This is a superb initiative which will bring in much-needed income which is then pumped back into the community to assist with suicide prevention in our area,” he said.

“There is still a big programme of work to remove barriers which, unfortunately, do exist in society around mental health awareness. It is ok to not be ok. Its ok to ask for help. These are very powerful messages which need to be accepted right across society and events such as the ones organised by Alps do reach out and promote the message in a positive way.”

Newry, Mourne and Down Council chairman, Mark Murnin, said too many people have been bereaved by suicide or have been close to someone who tried to take their own life and it is important to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.

“The 10k life run on September 9 is a great cross-community opportunity to raise awareness of the key issues of suicide and mental health in our society,” he said.

“The occasion promises to be a great fun event for all the family and I would encourage everyone to come along and take a minute to change their lives or that of someone else.”

For those daunted by a 10k race, there will also be a shorter 5k fun run and walk on the day and family members not taking part in the run can enjoy the free family fun day and party in the park.

It features an inflatable igloo, face painting, cartoon characters and a disco. Everything kicks off at 11am with the race commencing at noon. 

Anyone interested in participating in the event can register on the Atlas Running website www.atlasrunning.co.uk and clicking on ALPS Life Run Delamont Country Park Sunday 9 September 2018.