Every year, 44,000 people take their own lives in the United States. But a group in Maine is trying to do something about it.
Nick Danforth, founder of the nonprofit Pain to Power Suicide Awareness, says he will never forget the pain caused by his father’s suicide in 2015. He made it his mission to transform his pain into power.
To help others affected by the suicide of a loved one, Danforth created the Ride for Suicide, an annual fundraiser that takes place every Saturday at 9 a.m.
“It’s a great time, but the stories aren’t that great. But the fact that we can bring everyone together and share these stories and support each other is really cool,” Danforth said.
There will be live music, a bar, a motorcycle raffle and more than 20 vendors.
Danforth says the motorcycle tour starts at LA Harley in Lewiston, goes through the town of Winthrop on Route 202 and then ends back at LA Harley after 45 minutes.
The founder says that he wants to use the money raised to open his own facility to help people in need by providing free counseling.
“So Pain to Power can have its own building with therapists. With drug counseling, alcohol counseling, mental health counseling and what we can do is give back to the community with free services, free services,” Danforth said.
Danforth says such conversations show others that they are not alone or isolated in these feelings.
“Normalize that life is not always easy. And normalize it to talk about it and talk about the difficult things. And not just celebrate everything that is great in life,” Danforth said.
The journey began in 2016, just a year after Danforth lost his father.
He had expected about 15 bikers, but 200 came.
To learn more about the Ride for Suicide or to donate to Pain to Power Suicide Awareness, CLICK HERE.
If you need help, 9-8-8 is the suicide and crisis lifeline.
The NAMI Maine group also offers support if you have experienced a traumatic loss in your life.
