Why do we run?


Do you know the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24?

The answer is suicide.

Out of 100,000 kids...

...20.5 of those ages 10 to 24 will die by suicide in just 1 year (that we know of).  For every completed suicide, there are another 11 attempts that we don't hear about.  Many others aren't reported.  Why?  STIGMA.

There is something you can do to stop this travesty.  Help kids have a voice to help other kids and save a life.  Just as a marathon or half marathon is a very long race, LETS youth are also on a difficult race: to erase the stigma of mental illness.  Let's invite kids to talk openly--and without stigma--about issues like teen suicide, bullying, eating disorders, self-harm, and mental health concerns.  And now that we're talking...let's run!  

We run because it's fun, and we run because it matters!

LETS works. LETS can't do this alone.  LETS needs a team...  

Let’s race against stigma!
Let’s run the LA Marathon on March 18, 2012!  If you join Team LETS and meet the fundraising goal of $500, LETS Educational Foundation will reimburse your race registration fee.  Fundraise $1500 and receive a LETS engraved iPod Touch!  For complete program information, visit Let’s Run!

Here’s how:  

1. Register for the run or run/walk of your choice on the official race page: www.lamarathon.com
2. Sign up to run with team LETS as an official team member:www.crowdrise.com/teamletsla
3. Email letsrun@lets.org to introduce yourself.  We’ll send you a fundraising toolkit, and a personal email (from a real human!) to thank you and answer any questions.  
4. For reimbursement of the standard race registration fee, enter your address when you are setting up your fundraising page.  We’ll send you a check within one month after the race.
5. Check your email for Team LETS updates and announcements, and please keep in touch!


Let’s help kids talk!


LETS is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) children’s charity dedicated to erasing the stigma of mental illness by funding and developing educational programs, mentoring opportunities, and research possibilities designed to empower youth to change the perception of mental illness.  Your donation will directly support our LETS Clubs in middle schools, high schools, and universities where students can discuss stigma, learn about mental health, lead their own stigma-erasing projects, and provide peer-to-peer education.


How much does a secret weigh?


Every time we see a teen suicide, bullying incident, eating disorder, or youth tragedy in the news, it breaks someone's heart--like yours or mine--as we wonder, how can we help?  But far more telling than what we see in the headlines is what remains unspoken.  One family is thinking, "We never saw this coming."  One teacher is thinking, "That happened here, too."  One friend is thinking, "I hope it wasn't my fault."  One leader is thinking, "Good thing we don't have those problems here."  One health care provider is thinking, "We did the best we could."  And thousands of kids are thinking, "I'm going through the same thing...but I can't tell anyone."


Please support our exciting race for kids by running with Team Let’s Run in the Los Angeles Marathon or sharing a donation.

LETS Official Website