Chelmsford Natives to Take on Triathlon in Memory of Cousin and Others Lost to Suicide

Chelmsford natives Kara Morrissey and Erica Omobono will take part in the Escape the Cape 

Sprint Triathlon on Saturday, May 31, 2014. By doing so, they will help Samaritans, a local suicide prevention organization, raise awareness and much needed funds for its life-saving services.

Kara and Erica are participating in the Triathlon as members of Samaritans’ Running Community, which provides support to those participating in athletic events of their choosing to raise funds and awareness for suicide prevention. They first became involved with Samaritans’ through Samaritans’ 5K “Run for Someone Else’s Life” 5K Run/Walk and Family Fun Festival as members of Paul’s Team, a team created in memory of Kara’s cousin, Paul, who died by suicide in 2010 at the age of 20.

Kara and Erica have recently surpassed their initial fundraising goal of $1,500 towards Samaritans’ services, all of which are provided free of charge. Last year, 469 volunteers helped Samaritans answer 142,577 calls and over 900 chats; deliver 268 suicide prevention workshops and community outreaches to 12,937 people; and make over 900 connections with people bereaved by suicide. 

Kara currently resides in Manhattan and works in sales at Penguin Random House, and Erica lives in Somerville where she works as a nurse at Beth Israel Deaconess. They will be returning to Chelmsford before heading to Onset for the Triathlon this weekend. 

To make a donation in honor of Kara and Erica, please visit https://sna.etapestry.com/fundraiser/Samaritans/Runningcommunity/individ...

More about Samaritans

Samaritans’ purpose is to reduce suicide by alleviating despair, isolation, distress and suicidal feelings among individuals in our community, 24 hours a day; to educate the public about suicide prevention; and to reduce the stigma associated with suicide.

Over the past 40 years, Samaritans volunteers have answered more than 2.5 million phone calls. The agency has trained more than 4,500 volunteers and instructed more than 100,000 individuals through its Community Education and Outreach Program and has supported over 10,000 individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide.

To learn more about Samaritans’ Running Community, sign up for Samaritans’ 16th Annual “Run for Someone Else’s Life” Run/Walk 5K and Family Fun Festival which will be held on September 27, 2014 in Artesani Park, or learn more about Samaritans’ life-saving services, visit www.samaritanshope.org.

Samaritans Statewide Toll Free Helpline: 877-870-HOPE (4673)