BOARDMAN, OR - The community came together in a colorful and meaningful way on Saturday, May 16th, for the 2026 Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention Color Run at Boardman Marina Park. While this was the second annual color run hosted at the Marina Park, it was the first year that Community Counseling Solutions, Columbia River Health, and Boardman Park and Recreation District teamed together to support mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and community connection.

The event welcomed 150 participants who joined the fun despite the blustery weather! This far exceeded our expectations in the best way and we can’t wait to see the event grow in coming years. Throughout the morning, Boardman Marina Park was filled with smiling faces, laughter, and vibrant clouds of color as participants of all ages walked and ran together in the event t-shirts that were included in the registration.  Families, friends old and new, coworkers, and neighbors joined side-by-side for a few short hours to set aside life’s burdens and make the day a little brighter.

In addition to the color run, community members had the opportunity to connect with several incredible resource vendors who shared information and support services focused on mental health and suicide prevention. Vendors included Embodhi Yoga with Lili, Columbia Counseling, Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc., Community Counseling Solution’s EASA and Zero Suicide groups, and Good Shepherd Health Care System.

The event served as a powerful reminder that mental health matters and that communities grow stronger when people support one another. The motto of this year’s event, “Strong Minds, Strong Community,” serves as a reminder that mental health challenges do not have to be faced alone, and that a strong, caring community can make a lasting impact.

 Published in the North Morrow Times June 2026: Link to Article