Marla Tellez Runs Didi Hirsch's Alive Together 5K for Suicide Prevention

Didi Hirsch's Alive Together 5K

• 🏃‍♀️ Hundreds gathered for the annual Didi Hirsch Alive Together 5K at UCLA, an event honoring loved ones lost to suicide.
• 🎯 The 3.1-mile run/walk aims to spread awareness and support the nonprofit's life-saving work in Los Angeles for over 80 years.

Personal Stories of Impact

• 💔 Volunteer Esther Ibara Bryant shared her story of losing her son Nathan to suicide in 1997, emphasizing the need for awareness to prevent future tragedies.
• 💡 Actress Sarah Gilman recounted how Didi Hirsch saved her life when she was in college, highlighting the organization's crucial role in suicide prevention.
• 💬 Gilman found hope and community upon seeing the "suicide prevention center" sign, realizing there was a support system available.

Didi Hirsch's Mission and Reach

• ✨ Founded in 1942, Didi Hirsch has been committed to erasing the stigma of mental health and suicide.
• 📈 In 2024 alone, the center assisted over 270,000 people, marking the highest number in its history.
• 📞 The event raises funds and awareness for the organization's suicide prevention center, the nation's first and largest, which receives many calls through its 24/7 crisis hotlines.

Community and Support

• 🤝 The event brought together participants, including FOX 11's Christine Divine and Marla Tellez's family, creating a day of joy and uplifting those who have faced dark times.
• ✅ Crossing the finish line felt especially meaningful, with participants feeling an extra push knowing they were supporting a vital cause.
• 🆘 Resources for help include the crisis hotline at 988 and the website ddhirsh.org.