A 100-Mile Journey to Honor Lives Lost and Save Others
My name is Dr. Patrick McEnaney, and I’m a surgeon at UMass Memorial Health—Milford Regional Medical Center. On Saturday, June 28, I will take on one of the most grueling ultramarathons in the world—the Western States® 100-Mile Endurance Run in California.
But this isn’t just about miles and mountains. This mission is personal. I’m running with purpose, pain, and deep resolve to raise awareness and vital funds in the fight against suicide.
When I was 12 years old, my oldest brother died by suicide at the age of 16. A decade later, while in my third year of medical school, I lost my other brother to suicide as well. The heartbreak of those losses changed my life and set me on a lifelong path to help others.
Since then, I’ve committed myself to preventing these tragedies and supporting those navigating the darkest moments of their lives.
The Western States® 100 is the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race. It spans rugged wilderness, towering climbs, and breathtaking descents—over 18,000 feet up and nearly 23,000 feet down—from Olympic Valley to Auburn, California. Every mile of this punishing course I will run in honor of my brothers, and in solidarity with everyone who has been touched by mental health challenges.
But I’m not doing this alone.
I’m dedicating this run to raising funds for Riverside Community Care, an amazing community-based nonprofit that brings hope and healing to:
• Youth and families at more than 4,000 K-12 schools around
the country through its SOS Signs of Suicide program, an
evidence-based suicide-prevention program that has been
shown to reduce suicide attempts by 64%.
• Thousands of adults, youth, and families in
Massachusetts who turn to Riverside for mental health care,
suicide education, trauma response, and more.
Please consider joining me in this powerful mission. Use the form on this page to contribute and be part of this movement for change. Your donation, no matter the amount, will directly support Riverside’s life-saving work and help prevent more families from enduring the kind of heartbreak mine has faced.
With all my heart, thank you for your support and for standing with us in this fight. Together, we can turn loss into hope.
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Prefer to donate by check?
Please make checks payable to Riverside Community Care and mail to:
Development Office
Riverside Community Care
270 Bridge St, Suite 301
Dedham, MA 02026
Please note on your check: “Patrick McEnaney’s run!”