The memory of one of our community’s darkest, saddest days has become an annual tradition to start Thanksgiving with a western Nevada County family reunion of sorts as the 18th annual Michael E. Bratton II Turkey Trot returns to Nevada Union High School in Grass Valley Thursday morning.
This run not only helps usher in the holiday season locally, but also serve as a fundraiser to support those who support our community’s mental health through the efforts of Anew Day, a grief and counseling service.
This event was created by the Bratton family as a way to make a difference for those struggling with mental health, as their son Michael took his own life. The annual race also supports local youth athletics, including those at Nevada Union High School.
“Over 2,000 family members, friends, and neighbors are expected to join in the 18th annual Michael Edward Bratton II Turkey Trot, which is set for Thanksgiving morning at Nevada Union High School’s Hooper Stadium,” Marianne Boll-See writes in today’s edition The Union.
“The 5K and 10K run and walk is held to support suicide and depression awareness and prevention, as well as fund youth activities, according to Mike Bratton, the host of the event.
“Bratton lost his son, Michael Bratton II to suicide 18 years ago and says that too often people don’t take the symptoms of depression seriously, and that those suffering form depression need to talk about the symptoms with trusted friends and family.
“’You raise your hand when you have a sore throat or the flu or, or a backache or cancer or diabetes, and you go to the doctor and you get help,’” Bratton said. “’Mental health is the same. We need to raise our hand and say I’m not right. Something’s going on. I am suffering from depression. I realize I have some of those symptoms.”
“Bratton went on to say, “’There’ll be people at this Turkey Trot that have lost a child in the last year to suicide. It’s still something that we can do better on, and that’s what the message is, to get rid of the stigma that mental health is something to be embarrassed about.’”
Read the full coverage at TheUnion.com for more on story behind the Turkey Trot, the impact it’s made on our community and the details on Thursday morning’s event: