Her brother John was a sophomore at Green Hope High School last November when he took his own life. He was a friendly guy who loved skateboarding and paintballing. News of his death rocked the school community.

And then it happened again in May. Senior Eliot Gareton committed suicide one month before graduation. The football player and honors student was to enroll in N.C. State University's engineering program.

The tragedies are leading parents, students and teachers to launch the "Save a Life" 5K Walk at Green Hope High School, which will take place on Saturday.

"I hope that it raises awareness among parents, students and community members about some of the pressures that go on behind the scenes that impact our students," Green Hope High principal James Hedrick said.

Concerned Green Hope High parents approached Hedrick after the second suicide, and the school's parent association formed a committee on youth suicide awareness and prevention this summer.

The town of Cary has also designated this week Yellow Ribbon Suicide Awareness and Prevention Week. Mayor Harold Weinbrecht has urged members of the Cary community to participate in the walk.

Proceeds from the walk will go toward sponsoring a training program for parents and teachers from The Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention program.

The program will teach participants how to spot warning signs and help teenagers ask for and receive help.

They'll hope to educate the rest of the school on what they've learned.

"I couldn't change the past for my brother. But I want to be there for other kids," Victoria Bennis said. "These kids are obviously so tormented inside, and they think they can't ask for help. But they can."

Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24, according to the National Institute for Mental Health.

"Suicide is such a taboo," Bennis said. "If nobody talks about it, it's like it doesn't exist."

Sandy Gareton, Eliot's mother, said she never dreamed her son was thinking about harming himself.

"None of his friends could come up with a reason, which will haunt me forever," she said.

Gareton said she's not ready to attend the walk this year. But she supports its mission - raising awareness of the issue and trying to find ways to prevent it.

"[Eliot] was never one to talk about his feelings," she said. "That's the biggest thing - getting them to ask for help. ... If awareness saves one child's life, it's worth it."

Victoria Bennis, a senior at N.C. State University, said she remembers and understands that adolescence can be difficult.

"If one little thing happens, it can seem like the end of the world," she said. "But these are little things. My perspective has changed. None of it matters. People and relationships - that's all there is."