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Jay Walkers Virtual Challenge
September 1-30, 2024
We are thrilled to announce our third annual Jay Walkers Challenge for Suicide Prevention Awareness!
This September, we are asking you and your team to complete 800,000 steps to honor every life lost worldwide each year to suicide. Start conversations about suicide with friends, family, and co-workers. Jay Walkers will be encouraged to share their own stories and let others know it’s safe to share theirs.
#StartTheConversation
Talking openly about suicide is one of the most powerful ways to prevent it. If you’re ready, please consider using the following resources to get started:
For Conversation with Veterans Showing Warning Signs
For Conversations with Veterans Not Showing Warning Signs
Know the Risk
It’s important to understand the circumstances that lead to suicidal thoughts and behaviors among certain populations. The following resources may be helpful:
Suicide and Older Adults: What You Should Know
About
Jay Walkers gets its name from Jay Gallagher (son of This Is My Brave Executive Director, Erin Gallagher) who lost his life to suicide in 2016 at the age of 18. Jay had so much life to live and so much love to give, yet the stigma of suicide prevented him from asking for the help he knew he needed. By participating in Jay Walkers, teams will do their part to break down the stigma that stands in the way of people getting life-saving help.
Jay Walkers will help spread the message that talking openly about suicide is one of the most powerful ways to prevent it.
Registration and Shirts
Registration is free and includes an option to purchase the official Jay Walkers 2024 shirt. Register by visiting RunSignUp to find participants, fundraisers, donations, and more!
You can purchase this year’s shirt through our merch store. The shirts are made with a 60/40 blend of cotton and poly. All fabric is combed and ringspun for a soft texture and premium feel.
How to Log Your Steps
You will be logging your miles directly into RunSignUp. You will get an email with instructions for you to upload directly. If you do not get the email, you can follow the instructions here. If you are having any trouble, please contact marlondeleon@thisismybrave.org
How to Become a Fundraiser
When you register through RunSignUp, you will have the option to become a fundraiser, collect donations, and set your fundraising goal. If you have already registered and would like to become a Fundraiser, you can find the option to ‘Become a Fundraiser‘ under the Donations tab on RunSignUp. You can also click here.
Fundraising allows This Is My Brave to continue our work to break down the stigma associated with mental illness and/or substance use disorder. We do this in the following ways:
- On stage through This Is My Brave – The Show, presented in cities across the U.S.
- Online through the hundreds of stories shared on our website through video and the written word.
- In-person through the amazing efforts of individuals like YOU have chosen to Be Brave With Us and participate in awareness-raising campaigns like Jay Walkers and Brave the Storm!
If you would like, you can also make a donation through our website or directly on RunSignUp. Your generosity makes our Brave work possible!
Get Social
We encourage participants to use your social media platforms to :
- Share with friends and family and invite them to join you!
- Document your efforts to incorporate movement into your routine for the sake of your well-being in hopes of inspiring others to do the same. Be sure to use the hashtag #JayWalkers24 and tag @thisismybrave across social media so we can see your posts!
- Fundraise on behalf of This Is My Brave — we always appreciate your support. Funds that you raise help us to continue our work of bringing stories of mental illness and substance use disorder out of the shadows and into the spotlight in order to reduce stigma and give hope to those who need it.
Don’t forget to take pictures! Document your efforts to incorporate movement into your routine while also inspiring others. Share your pictures on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Use the hashtag #JayWalkers24 and tag @thisismybrave across social media.
Questions
If you have any questions about setting up your page or about the event, please feel free to contact Erin at executivedirector@thisismybrave.org.
