29.9 Miles to Choose Life

Hey, I am Roman, a 36 years old computer scientist, passionate trail runner, and mountain lover. I am not sure if you are aware, but according to the World Health Organization, more than 700,000 people die by suicide every year. This means that statistically one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds. Besides this sad fact, suicides and suicide attempts have a devastating and long-lasting impact on families, friends, and colleagues. Moreover, one of the main causes of suicide, depression, is still a stigma in our society. 

Everyone who has lost someone due to suicide knows this deep feeling of hurt linked with many overwhelming questions arising. One of the main questions, that arises quite often, is:  "Could it have been prevented?" 

I believe that by improving support for people suffering from mental diseases, breaking through the stigma surrounding it, and raising awareness as well as acceptance, we can help to prevent suicide and that life is chosen over death. 

Therefore, I decided to fundraise for the German Society for depression help and suicide prevention (Deutsche Depressionshilfe) by competing in the UTMB KAT100 trail running race in Fieberbrunn (Austria) which is part of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc World Series, an international circuit of trail running races. I will participate in the trail marathon that has a distance of 29.9 miles (48 KM).

The German Society for depression help and suicide prevention is dedicated to making a significant contribution to improving the care of people suffering from depression and to reducing the number of suicides in Germany.

More information about the Deutsche Depressionshilfe and the UTMB KAT100 trail-running race can be found on the corresponding websites: 

https://www.deutsche-depressionshilfe.de/ (in German) 

Translation link in English: 

I would be grateful if you could support my campaign. Together, we can help to prevent suicide and to choose life.