Suicide is an issue making headlines across the country recently. Kaitlon Camper, a senior at North Myrtle Beach High School, is organizing a poker run benefiting suicide awareness. Experts say suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.
What began as a community service project requiring 16 hours of work has turned into gathering sponsors, making flyers and a Facebook page. With the help of her parents, Camper is busy organizing "A Ride to Save Lives." She chose a motorcycle themed event because her parents have participated in poker runs in the past.
"I picked mental illness, and the number one mental illness in America is depression, and often 15% of depressed people commit suicide," says Kaitlon.
Experts say 30,000 Americans die by suicide each year and an additional half a million attempt suicide annually. Raising awareness of mental illness is a cause Kaitlon is close to. "One of my friends was diagnosed with depression. She's dealing with that, and I've had two friends who have tried to commit suicide."
Kaitlon goes on to say she's seen people bullied in school and wanted to help out those who may be depressed or who have thought about suicide. She just started putting the event together less than a week ago, and she's gotten plenty of positive feedback from the community. "I didn't foresee so many people being willing to help. Just about everybody I've been to says they think this is a great idea, I think what your doing is really awesome."
The poker run is scheduled for Saturday, November 6. Registration begins at 10am at Dirty Dick's Crab House in North Myrtle Beach off Highway 17. The final stop is at Boom Boom's Restaurant. Proceeds from the event will go to the Mental Health Association of South Carolina.
Kaitlon hopes the event is successful enough to become an annual fundraiser.
When Kaitlon graduates in the spring, she has plans to attend school at Horry Georgetown Tech so she can study to be a nurse.
