PL Risk Helping Hands is getting ready for its participation in the annual Shatterproof 5K Walk in New York City on October 14th to raise awareness of the stigma of addiction. For the past several months, members of the team and their fellow coworkers have been raising money and awareness towards the walk and have raised their goal of $10,000 for this charity.
Shatterproof is an organization founded by Gary Mendell whose son tragically took his own life after a short life of addiction. Gary’s mission is to eliminate the stigma of addiction so that the issue can be discussed and brought to the forefront as an illness not something in the shadows.
Last year 60,000 people in this country died of opioid overdose or addition. To put that in context, that is as many deaths in one year as the entire Vietnam War. Gary’s organization has been instrumental in getting legislation passed that requires first responders to have Naloxone which is a drug that can save overdose victims. Many people who died could have been saved if this drug was standard. They also have helped pass other legislation such as good Samaritan laws and mandatory prescription monitoring laws.
PL Risk took pledges and donations over the past 4 months leading up to the walk. The PL Risk Helping Hands team is expected to participate in the walk along with other members of Axis Insurance Services, LLC and PL Risk Advisors, Inc. and their friends and family. Christine DeFelice, member of PL Risk Helping Hands team had this to say, “We are all in some way, whether directly or indirectly, affected by this epidemic. Help us eradicate the stigma associated with drug addiction, it truly is a disease.”
For more information or how to donate, join the walk or learn more information about this organization, see their team page: PL Risk Helping Hands