Sep. 4—Kayla Palmer knows the pain of losing a loved one to suicide, and knows the good work done by groups like Ray of Hope, Westmoreland County’s suicide awareness and prevention task force.
“I thought it would be great to allow people to donate to a group of Ray of Hope that works on suicide awareness,” said Palmer, who owns her own flower business, Sugar Magnolia Blooms. “We wanted to do something uplifting for families as a way to honor the loved ones they’ve lost.”
Palmer reached out to Ray of Hope officials and proposed an event that will take place at 6 p.m. Friday at the Rusty Musket Distillery, 905 Ligonier Street in Latrobe.
“Rhythm & Blooms” will bring together Ray of Hope staff, live music from local reggae fusion band MSJR and local flower vendors including Palmer will be on hand offering bouquets and arrangements with a “pay-from-the-heart” donation model.
“Last year I did a breast cancer benefit with my friend who’s in remission,” Palmer said. “This year I thought it would be great to find another worthwhile cause.”
Ray of Hope Coordinator Lisa Goldberg said the event is a great way to make the group’s message more visible.
“A lot of people don’t know that we’re the county’s suicide prevention task force until their lives are touched in some way by suicide,” Goldberg said. “Kayla and the band approached us with the idea and we thought it sounded great.”
It also will take place the day before Ray of Hope’s 19th annual walk to raise awareness for suicide prevention.
That will happen with a special survivor event at 10 a.m. and the walk to follow at 11:15 a.m., at Twin Lakes Park’s Pavilion 7 in Hempfield.
No registration is necessary to attend Rhythm & Blooms. To register for the Ray of Hope walk, go to Bit.ly/434YaVq.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.