Volunteers Plan Out of the Darkness Community Walk to Fight Suicide

Contact:

Missy Peters

(814) 696-5680, ext. 212

[email protected]

Volunteers Plan Out of the Darkness Community Walk to Fight Suicide

Participants encouraged to register ahead of the September walk

Altoona, PA - In 2022, there were an estimated 1.6 million suicide attempts in the United States. To draw attention to the fight for suicide prevention, volunteers from Blair County will be uniting with more than a quarter of a million people who are participating in walks across the nation in September.

The 14th annual Blair County Out of the Darkness Community Walk, hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Eastern PA Chapter and the Blair County Suicide Prevention Task Force, will be held at Lakemont Park on Sunday, September 8. Check-in and pre-walk activities, such as participating in remembrance crafts and supporting local food vendors, will begin at 9:30 am. The walk will occur from 11 am-12 pm.

A dedication for hope memorial will be displayed in recognition of the individuals who died by suicide. If you would like to commemorate your significant person in a special way, please email the person's name and photo to [email protected] by August 30.

"Suicide touches one in five American families. We hope that by connecting with one another, we will draw attention to this issue and keep other families from experiencing a suicide loss." said Missy Peters, chairperson for the Blair County Out of the Darkness Community Walk committee. "Our goal is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide."

This walk supports the AFSP's education and support programs, as well as its bold goal to reduce the national rate of suicide by 20 percent by the year 2025.

"This year we want people to join us in walking to create a world without suicide," said AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia. "By walking you are helping AFSP make progress in prevention through research, advocacy, education and support to those affected by suicide. I'm in awe of our courageous volunteers who are lifting their voices to inform local and national leaders of the support needed to reduce suicide and save lives."

As of August 2024, local sponsors for the Blair County Out of the Darkness Community Walk include the Adam Zook Foundation, Blair County System of Care, Blair Family Solutions, CONTACT Altoona, Community Care Behavioral Health, Falon's Sprinkle Kindness Inc., NAMI Blair County PA, Peerstar LLC, Pyramid Healthcare, The Meadows Psychiatric Center, Stuckey Automotive, UPMC Altoona, and UPMC Western Behavioral Health of the Alleghenies (WBHA).

To register as an individual or team for the walk, become a sponsor, or find more information, please visit afsp.org/blair. If interested in setting up an information/vendor table related to suicide prevention, please email [email protected].

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