PITTSFIELD -- Nobody is alone in the running community.
The Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention's inaugural 5K Run and Walk provided an opportunity to shine a light on a difficult topic and raise awareness for suicide prevention.
"With suicide, a lot of people feel like there's nowhere to turn to and there's no hope," Shawn Mille, president of the coalition, said. "Showing Berkshire County coming together to support a difficult topic and support one another is huge."
'We need to keep showing up.' 150 complete Rainbow Run 5K to kick off Pride Month
On Sunday morning, 41 runners participated in the race, which took place at the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail on Crane Avenue. The Berkshire Running Center, Berkshire Running Foundation and the coalition hosted the race.
"It's kind of gotten to be where the community is feeling safe to own these different [demographics]," Race Director Shiobbean Lemme said. "People are finding that they're not alone. ... We're only meant to get through this life if we can help each other."
Raising money for suicide prevention, more than 100 trek through Pittsfield remembering loved ones lost at this year's Berkshire County Out of the Darkness walk
Established in 2009, the coalition is a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to providing suicide prevention resources, loss and healing programs, professional training, and advocacy efforts. It serves as a regional arm of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention.
Volunteers for the Berkshire coalition had a resource table set up with brochures and other information at the race. "Having the resources out in the community is huge," Mille said.
Lemme said they raised just over $2,000 and did not have the final amount, but said the proceeds will go to the coalition. 75 runners registered for the race, she said, adding that "it's a beautiful representation [of the community]."
'He was a wonderful man.' Berkshire law enforcement, Bruins alumni teams raise over $60,000 to honor the late Pittsfield Police Officer Michael J. Silver
Many participants ran in support of people who have died by suicide, and some participants wore shirts. A group of about 11 people ran in support of former Pittsfield Police Officer Michael Silver, who unexpectedly died in October 2024, just one week after celebrating his 42nd birthday.
The group included Pittsfield Police officers and members of his family, who wore black T-shirts with Silver's name on the back. One person in the group ran with a police body armor vest.
"This family is the most beautiful thing," Lemme said, adding that for them to carry the memory of the person they lost was special.
Rafael Mellow-Bartels took home first-place honors with a time of 17:17. Nellie Swabey, 16, was the top female finisher (20:33) and placed third overall.
Mellow-Bartels, who will be running for Vassar College in the fall, said that running for a good cause was "important to me."
"Running is something that I love, but when you can support other people, I think that's a good thing," Mellow-Bartels said.
Mille said that one of the reasons he joined the coalition was to "make sure that the people in our community stay in our community." Mille has worked at multiple mental health treatment facilities and likes helping people.
"I wanted to make sure that people had the tools and resources to help themselves or others," Mille said.
Elizabeth Heller, vice president at the coalition, said she lost a friend to suicide after college and that it's been a part of her life. Heller is a mindfulness educator, and she focuses on kids and teaching them how to manage their emotions and feelings.
Mille's husband, Travis, who has been a health care administrator for about 13 years, said many studies show there is a direct correlation between someone's mental state and physical health. "It's such an obvious need in our community," Travis Mille said, adding that it's important to connect people with services.
"The way suicide is talked about has changed over the last ten years, and people are being more careful with the vernacular," Travis Mille said. He said that more people are saying "died by suicide" instead of "committed suicide" because "how we view it is how we talk about it.
"By saying died by suicide, it draws the light to the struggle, not the person," Travis Mille said.
Prizes from local businesses were given out to the top three male and female finishers. Shirts were also given out to the first 50 registered participants.
Berkshire County has the second-highest suicide rate in Massachusetts, according to the Love of T Foundation. Helping people in crisis and making them aware of helplines is important to the coalition.
"It is a big issue, and the more that it's just out there and there's awareness that people know they can come to us [is important]," Heller said. "People just knowing that [the 988 national hotline] exists is very important."