Stop the Silence to raise suicide awareness

The University of South Dakota Student Counseling Center and Nikki's Fund are working together to increase suicide awareness with Stop the Silence, a USD campaign aimed at preventing suicide, which claims the lives of 30,000 people annually.

Stop the Silence activities include an on-campus forum for the USD community and a 5K run/walk that will conclude campus and community National Suicide Prevention Week activities. The Stop the Silence 5K Run/Walk, which will begin at Prentis Park in Vermillion at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, supports Nikki's Fund – an organization in memory of Nicole Vallie Harris, daughter of Janine Harris, who suicided June 15, 2005. Nikki's Fund supports medication needs for USD students who have financial need and are in crisis with suicidal feelings.

Stop the Silence 5K Run/Walk registration forms are available at the USD Student Counseling Center, which is located in Room 336 inside Julian Hall, the Temporary Student Center on USD's campus, or the USD Student Portal at www .usd.edu/students.

Registration is also available at Prentis Park the day of the event beginning at 8 a.m. There is a $10 registration donation per participant. All proceeds from the 5K run/walk will be donated to Nikki's Fund.

For more information or to register for the 5K run/walk, call (605) 677-5777.