The second annual 8km Rangiora ''walk for awareness'', organised by Snap Fitness Rangiora, proved a success, with more than $1000 raised from the walk and raffles.
Organiser Jo Hawley-Smith said a further $1500 was raised from a quiz night last month, making a total of more than $2500.
The proceeds will go to support the ''I Am Hope'' initiative founded by comedian Mike King, in which young people who need support can log on to the website and find a local counsellor for free counselling sessions.
''It's just such a big issue and every little helps,'' Jo says.
She says the ''walk for awareness'' movement was founded in Brisbane several years by young businesspeople who had lost friends to suicide.
The 8km walking distance recognises that around eight people are lost to suicide in Australia every day. In New Zealand, that figure is nearly two people a day, with the recently released chief coroner's report revealing that 685 New Zealanders took their lives in the year to June 30.
