24-hour alpaca shearing event to benefit suicide prevention in Montana
A 24-hour alpaca shearing event across the globe in Sydney, Australia, aims to have a big impact on mental health awareness and suicide prevention here in Montana.
Over 500 alpacas will be sheared Nov. 22 and 23.
One of the organizers of the Shear for Light event, Peter Connelly, lost his wife, Angie Connelly, earlier this year to suicide.
Connelly is now directing all proceeds of the event to the Montana Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
"We can bring the conversation forward and talk about suicide and mental health and address that people also need to be healthy mentally -- it's a holistic thing. You have to have check up upstairs too," he said.
Connelly is a professional shearer with an alpaca goods store, Shorn, which he shared with his late wife in Livingston.
He'll be joined by his friend and colleague Nigel Wood, who is from New Zealand, to shear the alpacas.
The event will be live streamed on Nov. 22 on their Facebook page.
Connelly says even giving them a heart to show that you're watching will help them during the challenge.
There are also ways to donate to the cause and pledge an alpaca on the event's website.
