GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A push to raise awareness about mental health got a boost Sunday with the 10th annual ‘suicide prevention ride’ in Northeast Wisconsin.
Every year the event grows and organizers say it’s all about supporting those in need.
They’re a tight group of bikers. And all of them share more than a love for motorcycles.
“I ride for a lot of different people that I know that have committed suicide,” said Persson.
“I suffer from anxiety and depression, and I tried to kill myself a couple of times in my life, and I’m still here to talk about it,” said Jeanne Parrett.
Persson tells FOX they’re trying to get rid of the stigma surrounding mental health as well as prevent suicide.
“letting people know it’s OK to feel that way and it’s OK to get help also.”
Dozens of bikes lined up at each of the stops bringing awareness to suicide prevention and proof that there’s power in numbers.
“The rolling thunder going through and people go ‘holy crap what’s that’,” said Parrett.
That’s the sound of more than a hundred motorcycles each with a yellow bandanna tied to it.
Tana Koss, division director at Family Services in Brown County, tells FOX 11 all of the money raised goes to the Brown County Crisis Center.
“Over the last 10 years, this ride has financially supported us to the tune of 15 thousand which really makes a difference.”
The Brown County Crisis center receives about 400 calls a month from people thinking about suicide.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, on average, 700 people die by suicide in Wisconsin every year.
“A lot of time and commitments gone into this event to make it successful to really help support survivors,” said Koss.
To honor the rides tenth year, organizers brought Packers Hall of Famer Chester Marcol along for the ride and raffled off a signed helmet.
The ride started at Terry’s Wall Street Pub in Green Bay.
It made stops in Denmark, Greenleaf and De Pere as well.
