Find out why These Hikers are Leading a Walk to Capitol Hill
Saturday, September 10th, World Suicide Prevention Day, Jeff Alt, author of A Hike For Mike, and his wife, Beth will lead a “Hike to the Hill,” to Capitol Hill to bring attention to—and help prevent—the national and global suicide epidemic. They want to stop the 31,000 American deaths each year to suicide and help the 19 million Americans suffering from depression.
(PRWEB) August 19, 2005 -- Saturday, September 10th, World Suicide Prevention
Day, from 10a.m.-12p.m., Jeff Alt, author of A Hike For Mike, and his wife, Beth
will lead a “Hike to the Hill,” from Freedom Plaza (across from the White House)
to Capitol Hill. This event is sponsored by the Suicide Prevention Action
Network USA (SPAN USA) to bring attention to—and help prevent—the national and
global suicide epidemic. After losing a brother (Mike) to suicide, these hikers
learned that Mike’s suicide might have been prevented by treating his depression
(Most suicides are attributed to untreated depression). No one knew Mike was
depressed. These hikers decided to climb every mountain—and hill—necessary to
make the symptoms and treatment options of depression common knowledge. The
Alt’s walked the Sierra Nevada John Muir Trail as a depression awareness
campaign and now they have taken their journey to Capitol Hill. They want to
stop the 31,000 American deaths each year to suicide and help the 19 million
Americans suffering from depression.
Alt can share with your audience:
* How one family chose a proactive way to cope with the tragic loss of a
loved one to suicide. 180,000 family members experience the loss of someone to
suicide each year.
* How every family can learn to detect symptoms of
depression. With plenty of treatment options and professionals to treat mental
illness, the issue is awareness and educating everyone on what to look for and
how they can help.
* How taking a hike can help the healing process.
Doctors agree that exercise is beneficial both physically and mentally. Taking a
stress free break from cell phones, road raged traffic, e-mail, and a work load
can be very soothing. Although hiking is not for everyone, experiencing the
wonders of our national parks can be healing.
Jeff Alt, author of the
award-winning A Walk For Sunshine, has been an expert hiking commentator for
ESPN’s Inside America’s National Parks and his adventures have been widely
featured in media across the country. More about Jeff (http://www.awalkforsunshine.com/jeffaltmedia.htm).
Jeff
Alt, is sequencing the release of his second book, A Hike For Mike, with “Hike
to the Hill” to help bring awareness to this important cause. After losing a
brother to suicide, Jeff Alt, and his wife trekked the 218-mile John Muir Trail
to create awareness of the deadly outcome of untreated depression. Their
adventure is recounted in A Hike For Mike: An Uplifting Adventure Across the
Sierra Nevada for Depression Awareness (ISBN: 0-9679482-1-5, $14.95). A Hike For
Mike takes you vicariously along the Alts’ journey. This heartwarming, humbling,
humorous, true-life adventure story personifies perseverance, and models ways of
overcoming adversity. After leading a Hike to Capitol Hill, Alt will then hike
to the Barnes & Noble Booksellers (555 12th St. NW, Washington DC;
202-347-0176), at 2:30p.m. where he will sign the first publicly available
copies of A Hike For Mike, kicking off his book’s national
release.
“...written with clarity, precision, compassion, and an
incredible respect for life…”—Jerry Reed, Executive Director, Suicide Prevention
Action Network USA, from the book’s foreword.
“...Alt’s conversational
writing style makes one feel like a participant rather than an
observer…”—Library Journal.
“Hike to the Hill” is part of the Suicide
Prevention Action Network USA’s (SPAN USA) Annual National Awareness Event
(NAE). SPAN USA is a national nonprofit organization with the largest grassroots
advocacy network of suicide survivors in the United States. For “Hike to the
Hill” Details, to schedule an interview, or get a quote from SPAN USA, please
contact Allison Gilmore at (202) 775-1401 or e-mail protected from spam
bots.
To request a review copy of A Hike For Mike, arrange an interview
with Jeff Alt, or any additional information, please contact: Kate Bandos,
800-304-3269, e-mail protected from spam bots, Fax: 616-676-0759.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/8/prweb274076.htm