The first South Buffalo Awareness/Remembrance Walk for Hope, to raise awareness for individuals and families impacted by depression and/or addiction, will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 21, in Cazenovia Park.
“South Buffalo and the entire Buffalo Niagara region have been hit hard in recent years by depression-related deaths,” said event organizer Mike Blake. “Suicide and accidental overdoses have unfortunately become increasingly prevalent. We encourage friends and family members who have lost loved ones too soon, for any reason, to walk and remember them in their own way.”
The 1.5-mile walk will begin at 11 a.m., with check-in for the walk taking place from 9 to 10:30 a.m. While the walk is free, those who can afford it are asked to make a donation of $5 to $10 per person. A commemorative walk T-shirt will be included for each individual donation of $15 or more.
Princesses Belle, Ariel and Jasmine will make special appearances during the event, along with Sabretooth and the Batmobile, weather permitting. Four food trucks and representatives from 10 nonprofit agencies will also be on hand.
All proceeds from the event will be distributed to mental health groups chosen by South Buffalo families who have lost loved ones to depression-related deaths or accidental overdoses.
Online registration closes at midnight Friday, May 20. However, anyone who would like to participate can register in person at the walk during check-in time.
The event will also include an auction featuring more than 100 gift baskets, including autographed sports memorabilia. Auction tickets will be available for purchase during the event.
For more information on the Walk for Hope, please visit https://south-buffalo-walk-for-hope.eventbrite.com. You can also follow the event on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/1567161083609030/ for frequent updates.
