Hundreds gather to remember lost loved ones during Suicide Prevention Month

September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. In El Paso County last year, more than 160 people took their own lives.

Hundreds gathered at the El Pomar Youth Sports Complex to walk, run, and remember those lost during the “Race Against Suicide” event.

“It just makes you feel like you’re doing something to help,” participant Tess Peters said.

Peters lost her husband’s 15-year-old cousin, Maggie Drew, last November.

“She was just a beautiful person,” Peters said. “We just loved her so much and it was such a shock when we lost her.”

So Sunday, they walked to remember her alongside hundreds of other people remembering their loved ones that are gone, but not forgotten.

“I’m running for my brother, he passed away six years ago,” participant Bevy Squire said.

The event also was designed to show support for those who are left behind.

“There’s a lot of support in the community and I don’t think there’s a lot of people who know about that support,” Squire said.

Hundreds of balloons were released in memory of those lost. Some tied paper hearts to the string to send up a message of love.

The event, put on by Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention, also had several support teams available for people coping with loss, or struggling with any kind of mental illnesses.