Palmerton Area High School hosted its second annual “Volley for a Cause” event on Sunday. This event united the girls’ varsity volleyball team, Palmerton students, professionals, volunteers, and members of the community in support of mental health awareness.

Savannah Mickel, coach of the volleyball team, said the students got to pick the cause this year.

“Last year, the event supported breast cancer awareness, and this year, our players chose mental health support. This event is way more than a volleyball competition. It’s about building connection, community, raising awareness, and support for those in need of mental health services,” Mickel said.

“We hope to keep this event running every year, and benefit a different worthy cause with each one,” Mickel added.

One of the captains of the girls’ varsity volleyball team, Mikayla Maxwell, said she and her teammates picked this cause to help bring the community together and raise awareness.

“We hope we can do our part to end the stigma surrounding mental health,” Maxwell said. “It’s an impactful event, and I am grateful to be a part of it.”

Trevor Bartholomew, a member of the board of directors for the Bo Tkach Foundation, was pleased to see this event take place and hopes to see more like it.

“The Foundation has funds for anyone who needs mental health support and services, but the funds are underutilized,” Bartholomew said. “This is part of the reason why we do these types of events.”

“Bo Tkach was a dear friend of mine, a star athlete and a model student. I never want to see anyone have no outlet, or feel like they have no one to talk to,” Bartholomew added.

Professionals and volunteers were on site with stickers, bracelets, and other items to help raise awareness for those in need of mental health support. Kirsten Baker, cochair of the Carbon County Local Outreach to Suicide Providers, provides support for grieving families with suicide deaths.

“Carbon County has the highest rate of suicide deaths per capita in the state of Pennsylvania. Our organization and others like it are here to help reduce that number and provide hope and healing to grieving families, as well as team training for mental health support. This is a wonderful event for a very worthy cause,” Baker said.

“We are always looking for volunteers and those looking to get involved. Many of our volunteers have personal experience with mental health,” Baker added.

Tiffany Rex, outreach coordinator for the Carbon Monroe Pike Mental Health and Developmental Services, said she likes to do events like this to help raise community awareness.

“Our main goal, like others here today, is to end the stigma surrounding mental health. The stigma can be a bit heightened in rural communities, so local outreach events like this one are crucial,” Rex said.

Proceeds for this event benefit the Bo Tkach Foundation, which supports obsessive-compulsive disorder and promotes mental health awareness.

Volley for a Cause also featured a bake sale, a concession stand, and a 50/50 drawing.

For more information about the Bo Tkach Foundation, visit www.botkach.com. To get involved with the Carbon Monroe Pike Mental Health and Developmental Services, go to www.cmpmhds.org.