Elizabeth Saylor runs the Boston Marathon for the first time. She is doing this in honor of her father and to raise her awareness about mental health.
“Running through Boston has been a lifelong dream of mine,” Saylor said.
But her path to get here has been an emotional journey.
“On March 12, 2008, my father committed suicide,” Saylor said.
She was only 13 years old when her father died.
“I think it really opened my eyes to the discomfort around mental health and the inability of people to really talk about it,” she said.
That's why she's made it her mission to spread awareness about mental health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, someone dies by suicide every 11 minutes.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or chat with us on Live Chat. 988lifeline.org.You can also visit SpeakerOfSuicide.com/Resources for additional support.
Saylor is raising money for the Stepping Strong Center. The company's Injury Prevention Program offers suicide prevention training services.
“This emphasizes the importance of actually reaching out to people,” says Eve Kennedy Spien of Spaulding Outpatient Center. “I think this is a really important cause to support.”
“Knowing this is so much bigger than me,” Saylor said. “This is about a whole community of people.”
That's why every step Saylor takes is so meaningful. She pushes herself to do something difficult, just like her father always told her.
“He made me feel uncomfortable and he pushed me to embrace the discomfort,” Saylor said.
It is a message to all those who are struggling, no matter how difficult it may be.
“I think one of the best lessons they can take away, especially for little girls, is that it can be uncomfortable at times, but it's okay and you can get through it,” Saylor said. “I know I’m going to be thinking about my mom, my brother and my dad because this is for them.”
