“Patch it Forward” Movement Raises Awareness For Suicide Prevention

Annual Motorcycle Ride from Winnipeg to Brandon in honour of World Suicide Prevention Day

SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 – You have probably heard  of the term Pay It Forward –Motorcycle enthusiast, and suicide prevention advocate, Kris Goodman has started a new movement called Patch It Forward. After a loved one close to Goodman died by suicide, he started an initiative to help raise money for the Manitoba Suicide Prevention & Support Line, operated by Klinic Community Health.

“With the help of my wife, Ruth-Ann, my friend Rod and a few others, I came up with the idea for a cloth patch that says ‘Lean on me,’” says Goodman. “Each patch sells for $10.00, half of which gets donated to Klinic; the other half goes to making more patches.”

In addition to selling the patches year round, Goodman has organized a motorcycle ride on September 9th 2017 from Winnipeg to Brandon. The registration fees will be donated to Klinic. Last year’s “Breaking the Silence Suicide Awareness Ride” raised over $2000 for Klinic’s Manitoba Suicide Prevention & Support Line.

What: Breaking the Silence Suicide Awareness Motorcycle Ride

When: Saturday, September 9 (World Suicide Prevention Day is Sunday, September 10)

Where:  Registration begins at 9:00 AM at Red River Exhibition Park.  Motorcycles depart at 11:00 a.m., stop at the Army Navy in Portage la Prairie, and end at Anavets #10, 31-14th Street in Brandon, Manitoba.

Registration: $10.  You can register at the event or online at www.patchitforward.ca.  All proceeds donated to Klinic Community Health’s Manitoba Suicide Prevention & Support Line .

A spokesperson on behalf of Patch it Forward will be available to speak with media before the event.

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Media Contacts:

Kris Goodman, Patch it Forward Organizer

Phone: 204-782-6606 Email: kris@patchitforward.ca

Nicole Chammartin, Executive Director, Klinic Community Health

Phone: (204) 784-4075  Email: nchammartin@klinic.mb.ca

 

Media guidelines for writing about suicide: http://suicideprevention.ca/news-resources/media-guidelines-and-social-marketing/