On May 18, the Capital Region Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is hosting the sixth annual Hike for Hope – Cody’s Climb to raise awareness for suicide prevention, help erase the stigma surrounding mental illness, and raise funds to support AFSP programs in local communities.

The parents of Cody Miller first organized the hike, two years after their son, a student at Queensbury High school, took his life.

The May 18 hike is a challenging climb on the paved access road up Prospect Mountain off of Route 9 in Lake George. The event begins at 10 a.m. with a brief opening ceremony at the first overlook. At the summit, a brief ceremony, food, drawings, and prizes will conclude the event at 11:30 a.m.

In 2013, local businesses and hikers raised over $14,000.

Registration and more information is available online at http://afsp.donordrive.com/event/codysclimb2014/.

Each year, nearly a million Americans make a suicide attempt, more than 38,000 die by suicide, and more than 20 million suffer from depression, according to a release from AFSP.  Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States among adults age 18 to 65, and the second leading cause of death among teens and young adults.

“This is a public health issue that does not discriminate by age, gender, ethnicity, or socio-economic status. Suicide takes an enormous toll on families, friends, co-workers, and entire communities,” says the release. “Yet, suicide can be prevented.  This event is designed to increase awareness for mental health and suicide prevention in the greater Capital Region.”