Walk for Life relocates to Long Beach

DOWNEY - After hosting three successful community walks in Downey, the Sean Vernon Feliciano Amazing Day Foundation has announced it is relocating its Walk for Life fundraiser to the campus of Cal State Long Beach. The move is effective March 2, 2014, when the foundation will host its fourth annual walk.

Bob Feliciano, president and founder of the Amazing Day Foundation, said the relocation "was a difficult decision to make" but made sense after the foundation partnered with the CSULB chapter of Sigma Pi, Beta Omicron.

The new location is not only expected to significantly increase participation, but it will directly connect the foundation to the student population it is trying to help.

"With the fraternity's involvement, the foundation will be able to produce an event that serves to raise awareness among the college students it seeks to help by shedding light on issues such as mental health and how to directly make a difference in reducing the number of lives lost annually to suicide within the student population," Feliciano said.

Feliciano started the foundation after his son, Sean Feliciano, took his own life in 2009. Sean, a Downey High School graduate, was a student at UC Santa Barbara at the time.

For three consecutive years the foundation hosted its Walk for Life events at Stonewood Center, not unlike the Arc Walk for Independence. This year's Walk for Life, however, was pushed back to the spring due to scheduling conflicts.

"We regret moving an event that has been nurtured by Downey and its community, but we hope to continue our relationship with these outstanding organizations at our new home as we grow and expand our vision," Feliciano said.

In a statement, Feliciano thanked Stonewood Center, the city of Downey, police and fire departments, public works crews and the Downey Amateur Radio Club for their support over the last three years.

"We hope that those who have supported our event these past three years will continue to do so, and follow us to our new location," Feliciano said. "It is our goal to save college students from the silent killer, which is suicide."

For more information on the Amazing Day Foundation, or to make a donation, go online to amazingdayfoundation.org.