On April 25, 2026, the annual Hike for Hope took place at Bear Mountain. This family event is dedicated to suicide prevention, remembrance, and support for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
As the name suggests, participants were invited to hike to the summit. The event serves both as a tribute to loved ones lost to suicide and as a fundraiser to support AFSP’s important work.
The ASSP Hudson River Valley Chapter is proud to actively support AFSP. This mission is especially important to our chapter because many of our members work in the construction industry, where deaths by suicide outnumber fatal occupational injuries. According to CDC data, the construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates in the United States, making suicide prevention both a workplace safety issue and a public health issue.
During the event, our Chapter President, Rob Labbe, delivered remarks recognizing the teams that raised the most funds. He also emphasized an important message: while fundraising matters, presence matters most. Showing up, supporting one another, and keeping the conversation open are essential parts of suicide prevention.
The event was also attended by several current ASSP Hudson River Valley Chapter board members, including Andrew Oliver, Jacqueline Handy, Joe Cicalo, and Olga Bodiagina.
Past President, Josephine McCaffrey attended for her 3rd year in a row with a large team from ECCO III Enterprises, Inc.
Despite a forecast calling for heavy rain, hundreds of participants still showed up. As Rob Labbe noted, this has been the third straight year with rain — and the third straight year people left already talking about next year.
If you were not able to attend Hike for Hope this year, please consider adding it to your calendar for next year. Life is a TEAM SPORT and you are not alone in this game!
Olga Bodiagina
Secretary, ASSP Hudson River Valley Chapter
