Locals feature in Bay-to-Bay run

More than 2250 people competed in the Bay-to-Bay Fun Run from Woy Woy to Gosford waterfront in support of the Suicide Safety Network Central Coast on June 20.

The 12-kilometre race attracted competitors from across the Central Coast, Sydney and Newcastle including local residents from the Peninsula.

Empire Bay resident Matt Baker finished first in the male 12 to 15 years category and eighth overall while Mr Mark Wilson of Umina finished sixth in the male 40 to 49 category.

Mr Dennis Channon of Woy Woy finished in 10th place for the male 40 to 49 category and Mr John Kelly from Umina completed the course in 11th place in the male 20 to 29 age category.

Mitch Baker of Empire Bay finished in sixth place in the male 12 to 15 years age group and Umina resident Mr David O'Sullivan completed the race in sixth spot for the male 50 to 59 age division.

Renee Mainwaring of Phegan's Bay finished second in the female 16 to 19 age division while Mr Graham Kinross of Woy Woy completed the race in fourth spot in the male 60 to 69 age category.

Ms Julie Peksis of Woy Woy finished third in the female 50 to 59 division and Linda Barker of Blackwall completed the course in fifth spot in the 50 to 59 age group.

Suicide Safety Network secretary and St Vincent de Paul mental health project coordinator Ms Katie Sewell said part of the money raised from the event would go towards reducing Central Coast suicide statistics through a number of projects.

"Funds raised from the fun run will be used to host a suicide prevention, intervention and postvention forum for clinical, non-clinical and community service providers to gain additional skills, knowledge and resources for front line workers," Ms Sewell said.

"In addition, some of the money will be allocated to produce a Central Coast Suicide Intervention Resource Directory for families and service providers."

The Suicide Safety Network commenced in 1996 in response to the Central Coast Coroner's concern over an increase in suicide deaths in our district, which eventually showed almost a 100 per cent rise from 27 in 1995 to 48 in 1996, according to Ms Sewell.

Ms Sewell said the network did not provide a direct service but rather a network of service providers working together to reduce the incidence of suicide.

Press release, 22 Jun 2010 Katie Sewell, Suicide Safety Network Central Coast Statistics, 1 Jul 2010 Terrigal Trotters, Bay-to-Bay Fun Run