Caltrain to Ask Riders for Spare Change to Save Lives

By

May 10, 2012

Caltrain is asking passengers to chip in their spare dollars and cents one morning next week to help raise funds for rail suicide prevention.

Nine employees of SamTrans, the agency that operates Caltrain, have a combined goal of raising $9,000 for the Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk June 9 and 10 in San Francisco. The 18-mile, dusk-to-dawn walk raises funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The San Francisco Caltrain Station will be the half-way point for the 2,000-plus walkers expected to participate in the June 9 event.

Thursday, May 17, the Caltrain team will be at the San Francisco station asking passengers to toss in their spare change or loose dollars to help the team meet – and even surpass – that goal.

Caltrain is participating in The Overnight to help bring the issue of suicide and depression “out of the darkness,” and educate people that the best way to prevent suicide is through early detection, diagnosis and treatment of depression and mood disorders.

Suicide has long been the main cause of rail-related deaths in the Bay Area and throughout most of the world. And, research shows that most deaths by suicide are the result of mental illness.

Participating in the Out of the Darkness Walk gives employees a positive way to help save lives.

“As much as Caltrain does to raise suicide awareness through signage, education and fencing, you can’t help but feel powerless when reports of another suicide cross your desk,” said Jayme Ackemann, government affairs officer. “I’m walking in the Out of the Darkness Overnight because it’s something I can do to help those who are considering suicide and those who are left behind.”

Maintenance Supervisor Pete LeBaron said, “I speak for all of us when I say that we take great pride in the service we provide and it hurts us deeply when a life is lost. We have formed a team to help to spread the word about suicide prevention.”

So far, the team has collected more than $5,000, most through online donations via the Website for the walk at www.theovernight.org.

Caltrain also sponsored a team in the 2006 Out of the Darkness Overnight. The three-person team surpassed its fundraising goal, bringing in more than $7,000 in donations from friends, co-workers and Caltrain riders.

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