Article Contributed by
Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene
On Saturday, September 11, 2021 the Ninth Annual Raynor Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at Maplehurst Country Club in Lakewood, N.Y. Proceeds from the tournament go to the Suicide Prevention Alliance of Chautauqua County, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and local families who have been affected by suicide. The tournament honors the memory of Danny Raynor, who lost his life to suicide in 2007. The tournament brings friends, family, and others in the community together to not only remember Danny, but to remember other loved ones lost to suicide.
The tournament will be a four-person scramble at a cost of $75 per person or $300 for a team of four golfers. This includes 18 holes of golf, cart, t-shirt, lunch, dinner, fun and other giveaways.
Over $118,000 has been raised since the tournament’s first year in 2012. All of the funds raised have been donated towards the fight against suicide in the Western New York Region. The tournament is organized by Carri Raynor who was Danny’s wife.
“The first years of the event were all about Danny, and then it organically became a place to meet other loss survivors and honor their loved ones, while also supporting those who also struggle with mental illness,” said Raynor. “Through the nine years I have organized this event, meeting loss survivors has fueled my passion for increasing awareness within Chautauqua County. This event is a safe place for people to come together and celebrate their loved ones, knowing that other people attending understand the pain and struggles that come with a loss by suicide. I have been blessed to meet and provide support to many families through the funds that have been raised. I am excited for this year’s event and if you have lost a loved one to suicide, please contact me so we can honor them at the tournament. ”
The Suicide Prevention Alliance of Chautauqua County is dedicated to protecting and promoting life by fostering shared responsibility through raising awareness and community supports while embracing hopefulness and resiliency in the Chautauqua region. Since its foundation in 2011, The Suicide Prevention Alliance of Chautauqua County has collaborated with a number of local organizations and businesses to educate community members on the warning signs of suicide as well as provide resources for individuals, providers and families to get help and provide information on how to keep loved ones safe. The Alliance also trains community members in other mental health related topics including students in various local school districts and on college campuses.
The tournament organizers invite you to join us in taking a swing in the fight for suicide prevention. Let’s make every effort to beat last year’s contributions!
For more information about the tournament, please search Raynor Memorial Golf Tournament on Facebook and find the event page to register. You can also call Carri Raynor directly for additional information or to make a contribution to the event at (716) 203-1607 or email raynorc@chqgov.com.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, help is available. Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) or text “HOME” to the Crisis Text line 741-741. Both are free and confidential. You will be connected to a skilled, trained counselor in your area. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For Mobile Crisis Services in Chautauqua County, please call 1-800-724-0461, Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. and 24 hours a day on weekends and holidays.