Veteran suicide prevention walk hopes to 'break down the stigma'

Updated: October 05, 2019 10:28 PM

In Minnesota, the first Saturday of October is Veterans Suicide Prevention and Awareness Day.

In honor of the day, Pooter's Peeps, the Nicole 'Pooter' Burnham Legacy Foundation and Haven for Heroes have partnered to sponsor a 5K walk to raise money for suicide prevention.

Nicole Burnham, a soldier from Andover, died by suicide in 2018 after being sexually assaulted, harassed and bullied. KSTP first brought you Private Burnham's story last year after 5 INVESTIGATES found that the army failed to protect her.

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Now, her parents are hoping to break down the stigma surrounding suicide to help prevent it.

"I am just completely overwhelmed by the generous donations of our community and our family and our friends," Nicole's mother, Stacy Burnham, said of the event.

The money raised in the 5k is going to go toward building shelters for homeless veterans, and a scholarship at Anoka High School named after Private Nicole Burnham.