Northern Highlands grad and University of Pennsylvania freshman Madison Holleran took her own life on January 17th in Philadelphia. It was a shock felt far beyond her hometown and her cross country and track teams at Penn.
Almost immdiately, a scholarship fund was established in her name at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Two of her former teamates - both 2012 graduates of Pennsylvania high schools - decided they needed to make a contribution to the Foundation as well. Former Strath Haven runner Hannah Grossman and her best friend, Lauren Murphy, a former Villa Maria runner, decided to do the Love Run on Sunday March 30th in Philadelphia, in Madison's honor... and through the run, to raise money in her name for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. They currently have a goal of $15,000... and the page will be available through April 15th.
Miles for Madison Donation Page:
http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.personalCampaign&participantID=543325
Support Hannah and Lauren's efforts by donating what you can. Click here.
Madison was a NJ State Champion in the 800, and I know this problem has received a lot of press, especially in the running community. Her talents are something we can all admire as runners-- as we know they do not come without hard work. But more importantly, Lauren and I are racing in Maddy’s honor, because we see it as proactive. A better understanding of suicide and its causes will help prevent more people from experiencing the pain and grief that we all have in response to Maddy’s passing and that Maddy must have felt herself. With this being AFSP’s mission, Lauren and I saw this as the best cause to fundraise for leading up to our race.
- Hannah Grossman