The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R.) and Team 55 are pleased to provide details on the seventh annual Friday Night Lights event happening on October 4th at Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School.
Friday Night Lights is a Team 55 football event supporting suicide prevention through the Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge. Funds raised through Friday Night Lights this year will once again go towards C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R.’s Assertive Outreach Suicide Prevention (A.O.S.P.) program.
Approximately 4,000 Canadians die by suicide each year. Anyone can be at risk regardless of age, gender, socio-economic status or race. Launched in June of 2016, the A.O.S.P. program provides follow-up to individuals (and families of those) who have made a serious suicide attempt. The program has served hundreds of individuals and families, none of whom have made a further attempt at suicide.
“When we took this on, we pledged $40,000 a year for two years,” says Dave Pogue, founder of Team 55, noting the total cost of the position is approximately double their pledge. “We’ve come on board to pledge another $40,000 for the fourth year. All the funds raised will go to this program.”
In addition to seeing some of the best high school football in the province, attendees can expect engaging opening ceremonies with special guest speaker, Richard Clune of the Toronto Marlies.
“The opening ceremonies are your chance to hear from our guest speaker and listen to impactful stories that will inspire you to support mental health in any way you can,” says Pogue. “We hope if any audience members are still reluctant to talk about mental health that this will encourage them to seek help.”
A barbecue will also be running from 12 p.m. when games start until the end of the event. Team 55 merchandise will be for sale and everyone there will have the chance to chat with a representative from C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. about their programs and services and the A.O.S.P. program in particular.
While C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. has submitted two proposals for funding for the A.O.S.P. program under the previous provincial government, to date neither have been approved. C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. continues to advocate to all levels of government for future funding. However, it is because of the generosity of the Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes communities that the program is able to continue.
“We are so grateful for the support of Team 55 as well as all donors who make this program possible. Their dedication to mental health and suicide awareness has had an incredible impact on the lives of so many in our community,” says Jack Veitch, Manager of Community Engagement and Education for C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R.
“That said, in order for this remarkable program to be truly sustainable, we cannot continue to rely on members of our community to raise or donate the funds. The A.O.S.P. program is changing lives throughout Haliburton, Kawartha, and Pine Ridge and we believe it could change lives across Ontario, should government funding be made available.”
For more information, contact Jack Veitch, Manager of Community Engagement and Education at C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. at 705-748-6687 ext. 1015
jveitch@cmhahkpr.ca or visit www.cmhahkpr.ca.
For more information about Team 55, Let’s Tackle Suicide Awareness, visit their Facebook Page athttps://www.facebook.com/team55tacklessuicide/.
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