Ridge Road Run 5K History/Timeline
2018: Seven students from three local high schools: Red Bank Regional High School (RBR), Red Bank Catholic (RBC) and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) came together to form the Ridge Road Run 5K for Suicide Prevention to raise funds for mental health programs and to increase awareness about mental health struggles and suicide.
They had many things in common but two main things stood out: The three high schools are located on or close to Ridge Road and all of them had been impacted by a tragic death by suicide. Together they decided to put their school rivalries aside and created the Ridge Road Run 5K for Suicide Prevention. The first race was held at Rumson-Fair Haven High School.
2019: Ridge Road Run 5K, supported the initial goal with students from each high school working together to continue raising funds and awareness to support their schools and community. The event was again well received and supported the efforts to bring awareness and suicide prevention initiatives to all three high schools. The second race was held at Red Bank Regional High School.
2020-2021: The Ridge Road Run 5K continued during the global pandemic. Virtual races were held in both years. While the Covid 19 global pandemic brought on an entirely new set of mental health challenges for students and many individuals in our community and around the world.
An Ambassador program was formed at each high school. Ambassadors are committed to ensuring suicide prevention education and mental health/wellness initiatives as well as raising general awareness of suicide and mental health in their schools and greater school community.
2022: The RRR 5K returned to an in-person race at Red Bank Regional High School in May of 2022. It was a successfull event celebrating 5 years of raising funds for Suicide Educatioin and Prevention. Each school was gifted from race proceeds $10,000 to spend on mental health and wellness within their school and school community.
What started out as a 5K has evolved into so much more. With that in mind, we are rebranding in 2023 as The Ridge Road Alliance for Suicide Education and Prevention. The Alliance will serve as the umbrella organization for the 5K and the Ambassador program. There is coordinator that works with each school advisor and their students to coordinate awareness activities, the 5K race, social media and the new website with resources (launching spring of 2023). Funds are held in a restricted account through the Source Foundation at Red Bank Regional High School, a registered 501c3.
Each school received $10,000 to spend on mental health and wellness initiatives within their school and school community. Our Ambassador program has been promoting the new 988 crisis line. At their rival football game, both RBC and RFH donned You Matter shirts displaying the 988 crisis line. The double header “Battle of Ridge Road” basketball game between RFH and RBR served as the backdrop for students to come together for mental health awareness. RBR and RFH students wore Stay Strong and You Matter shirts both with the crisis line information on them. Students shared resources, gave out 988 bracelets and promoted the organization at both events. Spring of 2023 will see more mental health awareness activities between the 3 schools.
Ambassadors have disseminated information in their schools, spoken to the public at sporting events, promoted suicide education and prevention with teal and purple balloon arches, launched kindness campaigns, hosted speakers and relayed valuable information through social media.
2023: Save the Date: May 7, 2023 Rumson-Fair Haven High School
Proceeds of the race go to fulfilling our mission of suicide and mental health/wellness prevention, education and awareness benefitting students at Red Bank Catholic (RBC), Red Bank Regional (RBR), and Rumson-Fair Haven (RFH) High Schools and their greater school communities.
PLEASE CONSIDER BECOMING A 2023 SPONSOR OR MAKING A DONATION
Visit the Store for more information or Contact ridgeroadrun5k@gmail.com for more information
