Out of the Darkness Walk - September 26, 2020

Sep 28

Team Suicide Prevention had the awesome opportunity to support the 13th annual Walk Out of the Darkness event to fight suicide that was coordinated by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The walk was held at the Jenks Riverwalk and was attended by hundreds of people united in an effort to fight suicide while recognizing and honoring loved ones, raising awareness, educating the communities in our area, supporting one another, and sharing hope. It was a day of emotions, laughter, fun, and excitement.

Honor Beads

Losing someone to suicide or struggling with a mental illness can feel like no one understands what you are going through. Unlike other illnesses, it is difficult to look at someone and know their connection. Just one of many emotional moments was seeing participants at the event wearing Honor Beads. I will never look at a set of beads in the same light after understanding what the colors represented at the event.

White – Lost a child

Red – Lost a spouse or partner

Gold – Lost a parent

Orange – Lost a sibling

Purple – Lost a relative or friend

Green – Struggle Personally

Blue – Support the cause

Just take a deep breath and give yourself a minute to reflect on this.

Community Outreach

The event included multiple vendors that were present for outreach to the community and to distribute important information and resources. This year’s vendors included:

Empowered Voices
WarHawks PTSD Service Dogs
Team Suicide Prevention
Hope is Oxygen
Light of Hope
Together Just
Celebrate Recovery
The Demand Project
Balcony Women
Defending Dignity
Coffee Bunker
Tristesse Grief Center

The Team Suicide Prevention Booth

Our team took on the task of inflating approximately 1,000 balloons to be used in the grand finale balloon release that include balloons with loved one’s names. The balloon release was certainly an emotional moment as the balloons lifted into the blue sky and floated upward toward the heavens carried by the wind. We visited with many people regarding our mission to participate in the Race Across America (RAAM) in June 2021 to spread awareness and raise funds for Suicide Prevention across the entire United States as we ride our bikes 3,000 miles during a nine day period starting in Oceanside, California. We provided one of our team jerseys that was signed with loved one’s names lost to suicide. This special jersey will be carried with us during RAAM and will be worn by our team co-captain, Bill Taitano as we cross the finish line in Annapolis, Maryland. There were also poster signings with special messages on our “Team Unstoppable” print and our “Carter Newcomb” print.

This was certainly a lot to take in.

Team Suicide Prevention would like to express our thanks for the opportunity to contribute to this event’s success.

CraigJ