Great Day at the VA5K
Over 300 people joined together on a beautiful morning at the Medical Center for the 11th annual Alive and Running VA5K Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention Awareness on September 16, 2023.
The event is to show Veterans, their families, and the military community that they can Reach Out to help prevent suicide. “It shows we are there for them,” says Kelly Masley Suicide Prevention Coordinator. at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center. “It is okay to not be okay,” continued Masley. Everyone can make a difference. You do not need to be a professional. “The VA takes a public health approach to suicide prevention,” said Michelle Martin, Battle Creek VA Executive Medical Center Director. "It is great to see so many people out here to support this cause" continued Martin. The campaign is designed to bring attention and support that one small act could save the life of a Veteran or Service Member in crisis. This small act, of course, is a phone call to the Veterans Crisis line, dialing 988 and pressing 1. You can learn more about how to Reach Out and Raise Awareness. https://www.va.gov/REACH/spread-the-word/ Together we can all make a difference in raising awareness for suicide prevention.