Kacie’s Cause Heroin Awareness Mother’s Day Walk Sunday In Parkesburg, PA

The nonprofit heroin awareness organization named “Kacie’s Cause” is holding a two mile Mother Day Walk this Sunday in Chester County. The walk is free and includes lunch. It begins at 9 a.m. At the Parkesburg Point, 700 Main St., Parkesburg.

The movement is named after Kacie Rumford, who tragically lost her life to a heroin overdose at age 23. in March of 2013. According to their website, about Kacie’s Cause:

“To spread the word locally and nationally on heroin use and to lobby to have our current Heroin laws changed. An informative site for Parents, Friends, and Addicts.”

Kacie graduated from Kennett High school, Pennsylvania in 2007 and attended Penn State and Delaware County Community College. She loved poetry and writing.

The organization was founded four years ago by Kacie’s father, Andrew Rumford. Kacie’s Cause now has multiple chapters and support groups for parents, and Kacie’s Cause for Kids is in the works.

Last year’s walk included more than 500 people. For more information about the movement, please visit Kacie’s CauseKacie’s Cause.

Kacie’s Scholarship

Kacie’s family also set up the Kacie Erin Rumford Memorial Scholarship, citing that Kacie “had always wanted to change the world, to make it a better place for all of us.”

The scholarship is available to graduating seniors of Kennett High School’s “Students Against Destructive Decisions.” One winner is chosen each year for a scholarship from this group.

Statistics

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3,200 Pennsylvania residents died from a drug overdose in 2015 – reflecting a 20% increase from the year before. The state ranked #9 in the country for the most overdose deaths.

Also in 2015, more than 52,000 people died nationwide from overdoses related to drugs or alcohol. Heroin-related overdose fatalities have more than quadrupled since 2010, claiming nearly 13,000 lives in 2015 and representing about one-quarter of total overdose deaths.

~ G. Natalee Serrels, M.A., Psychology