Lancaster Women Organize You Matter Mental Health Awareness 5K

A group of southwestern Wisconsin women organized Lancaster’s first ever suicide prevention and awareness walk/run Saturday to honor their family members who have passed away. The first ever You Matter Mental Health Awareness 5K was held in Lancaster at the Grant County Fairgrounds. Two of the organizers lost children to suicide in 2021 and the other’s brother-in-law died by suicide 21 years ago. Mothers Tammy Crary and Denise Janssen want to spare others the same pain they’re still going through, by making mental health resources available at the race. Crary’s daughter Harmonie Kay took her own life in September of 2021. Kay was 16-years-old and would’ve graduated from high school on Friday. Lancaster mother Denise Janssen helped organize the 5K to honor her 18-year-old son Braeden Bausch who took his own life in December of 2021. Janssen said support groups and counselors helped her try to understand why her son passed away. Missy Sperle helped organize the race to honor her brother-in-law Jason Kammer’s memory. The money raised will go toward scholarship money for Grant County high school students and to the Braeden Bausch Foundation.