The second annual Run for Tomorrow 5K brought 140 participants to Arkansas State University-Mountain Home on Saturday, raising close to $10,000 for suicide prevention efforts in Baxter County, according to event organizer Summer Sasser.
“I don’t have the final numbers yet, because not all the money has come through,” Sasser said on Monday. “But I think we’re somewhere in the ballpark of about ten thousand.”
Last year’s inaugural race saw 206 runners and walkers and raised over $15,000. Even with fewer participants this year, Sasser noted a strong turnout and enthusiastic community support. “There were so many people who came out to support and walk and run,” she said. The fastest participant completed the race in about 20 minutes.
Sasser started the event in memory of her late fiancé, Christopher Albertson, the father of her two eldest children, who died by suicide in 2018. Speaking to the crowd on race day, Sasser shared her goal for the event. “We’re wanting to remember [those we’ve lost], but we’re also running for the people who are still here—for those who need help, for families learning to live with loss, and for people who need to know that asking for help is not a weakness.”
Local community groups offered resources alongside the event. The PAYS Coalition, which works to prevent youth substance abuse in Baxter and Marion counties, provided information on mental health support and distributed Narcan for opioid overdose prevention. Kingdom Life Recovery also set up a booth to share details about its programs.
“I loved how our community came together, and how we are able to openly talk about mental health,” Sasser said. “I really just hope that people keep checking in on their loved ones.”
Funds raised by last year’s race paid for postvention efforts in Baxter County, including resource packages for families who have lost loved ones to suicide and a specialized response team. The team, consisting of Sasser, Jamie Leach of Baxter Health, and chaplain Randy Ludwig, supports grieving families after notifications from the coroner’s office.
Race costs have been covered since the event’s inception by Ascend Wealth Management, where Sasser works, allowing all registration fees and donations to go directly to the cause. Proceeds are managed by the Baxter Health Foundation.
Later on Saturday, Dennis Gillan of the Half a Sorrow Foundation spoke at a free event hosted by Baxter Health at the Vada Sheid Community Development Center. “I thought it was really good,” Sasser said about Gillan’s talk.
Sasser expressed a commitment to continuing the race in the years to come. “My hope is that through this race, and through Chris’s memory, we can touch lives and make a difference.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a free service available 24 hours a day. Veterans can reach the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1, or by texting 838255.