Home Events Oakley Walk to Fight Suicide Set for October 13

Oakley Walk to Fight Suicide Set for October 13

by ECT

Oakley, CA − Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, yet suicide can be prevented. Volunteers from Oakley, CA and surrounding areas are joining the quarter of a million people who are walking in towns across the United States to draw attention to the fight for suicide prevention.

The annual Oakley Out of the Darkness Community Walk will be held at 8am on Saturday, October 13th at Cypress Grove Park, 4001 Frank Hengel Way in Oakley. This walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s education and support programs and its bold goal to reduce the annual U.S. rate of suicide 20 percent by the year 2025.

“Suicide touches one in five American families. We hope that by walking we will draw attention to this issue and keep other families from experiencing a suicide loss. We look forward to getting people walking and talking and sharing their experiences, so they know that they are not alone. Our ultimate goal is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide,” said Vanessa Perry, Walk Chair of the Oakley Out of the Darkness Walk and Board Chair for the Greater San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the AFSP.

The Oakley Out of the Darkness Community Walk is one of more than 550 Out of the Darkness Overnight, Community and Campus Walks being held nationwide this year. The walks are expected to unite more than 300,000 walkers and raise millions for suicide prevention efforts. Last year, these walks raised over $21 million for suicide prevention. Last year this local walk, raised over $45,000 and had about 500 participants.

Speakers at the Oakley Out of the Darkness Community Walk will include Contra Costa County Board of Supervisor Diane Burgis, as well as community members who will share their personal stories.

“These walks are about turning hope into action,” said AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia. “The research has shown us how to fight suicide, and if we keep up the fight, the science is only going to get better and our culture will get smarter about mental health. With the efforts of our courageous volunteers, and a real investment from our nation’s leaders, we hope to significantly reduce the suicide rate in the United States.”

Local sponsors for the Oakley Out of the Darkness Walk include Victory Fire Protection, Mt. Diablo Resource and Recovery and Tailgaters. Email [email protected] if your company is interested in sponsoring. To register for the walk visit afsp.org/Oakley.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide.

Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

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