Join the MHP Challenge To Help Save Lives

Colorado has one of the nation’s top ten suicide rates, according to the Center for Disease Control. Colorado also saw an almost 70% increase in fatal fentanyl overdoses from 2020 to 2021, with more than 900 deaths total last year, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. 

In response to this crisis, we have hosted our annual Challenge, successfully raising nearly $200,000 since 2018. All money raised goes directly to making lifesaving resources available to community members at no cost, including expert-led suicide prevention training and harm reduction resources like NARCAN and fentanyl test strips. For instance, money raised in the 2023 Challenge allowed us to deliver no-cost suicide prevention training to 15 non-profit organizations. 

The funds raised also make it possible for us to train more instructors in evidence-based modalities: Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), and Crisis Prevention. 

Mental Health Partners (MHP) is excited to announce that registration is now open for our annual fundraising event for suicide and overdose prevention! This year, our goal is to raise $50,000. 

For this year’s Challenge, we’ve added a fun new addition.  

Mesa Trail Ramble and Poker Run 

The Mesa Trail Ramble and Poker Run is a 10-mile event for runners and hikers. It will start at the South Mesa Trailhead at 6:00am on September 14th. During the run, participants will collect 5 playing cards along the route along the route, ending at MHP's Ryan Wellness Center in North Boulder (1000 Alpine Avenue).  

There will be two winners of this non-competitive event:  

The finisher with the best poker hand will receive a gift certificate from a local retailer! This is a free, non-competitive, optional activity for participants in the MESA Trail event only; the prize is based on your luck in drawing the winning hand. 

Other ways to join the Challenge 

In addition to this year's new Ramble, participants can get involved in a number of ways: 

Registration is now open. Choose your event, join a team, or create your own. You can also get involved by supporting another team or volunteering to support the Boulder Skyline Traverse on September 14th. Visit our event website for more details. 

Not sure how much to give? Here are some examples of how your genorosity is used to do directly make a difference:

• $10 – Send 1 person to Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide prevention training.
• $45 – Make 1 box of lifesaving NARCAN available to community members at no cost.
• $220 – Send 1 person to a 2-day interactive suicide first aid workshop.
• $300 – Fund 1 Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) class to teach up to 30 people lifesaving suicide prevention skills.
• $350 – Fund a YOU-CAN kiosk to distribute lifesaving NARCAN kits and fentanyl test strips.
• $670 – Help someone become a certified QPR Instructor so they can train others in suicide prevention.
• $2,000 – Fund 1 Mental Health First Aid class (for adults or youth).
• $2,200 – Send someone to a 3-day Instructor Training so they can teach Mental Health First Aid to adults and youth.

The MHP Community Challenge 2024 is supported by several local businesses and organizations – including presenting sponsor KeyBank, major sponsor Boulder Valley Rotary Club, sponsors Centennial Peak Hospital, Brothers Plumbing Heating & Electric, and NoCo Community AdSpace, as well as our partner Atlas Valley Purveyors.