On October 8th, the community will come together for the second annual Out of the Darkness Community Walk in the City of Oakley. The walk will take place at Cypress Grove Community Park, located at 4001 Frank Hengel Way. Registration will begin at 8:00am. The opening ceremony and walk will start at 9:00am.
The first annual Oakley Out of the Darkness Walk had over 800 participants in attendance and raised more than $40,000!
This year, as of Friday morning, the event has raised $32,000 with a goal of $40,000. The event has 601 participants currently signed up. Online registration closes at noon.
Vanessa Perry speaking at the first annual walk.
“I am excited for our second annual walk here in Oakley tomorrow. That we will all come together again, share our stories and help each other on our healing journey. This cause is so important to our community, and tomorrow is a day for us to come together and help stop suicide,” said Vanessa Perry.
The walk was first brought to East Contra Costa County after a group of community members realized there had been a significant increase in suicides in Oakley and the surrounding areas. The goal is to showcase community support and to help lower those numbers.
“The goal of bringing this walk to our community is to show others that they are not alone, both in their loss and in their own struggles with mental illness. We want to come together and let everyone know that they do not have to suffer alone, there are many of us who have similar experiences.” Vanessa Perry, Chair of the Oakley Out of the Darkness Walk
“I walk to help bring awareness for those who suffer in silence, so that they know they are not alone and that it is okay to ask for help.” – Erin Pina
“I walk to end the stigma surrounding mental illness and to bring awareness in hopes of ending suicide.” – Imelda Rios
Out of the Darkness Community Walks are fundraising walks supporting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. There are over 360 Out of the Darkness Community Walks taking place throughout the U.S. this fall. Funds will support vital research, education, advocacy, suicide prevention initiatives and programs to support those impacted by suicide. AFSP’s goal is to reduce the annual rate of suicide by 20 percent by 2025.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the nation’s leading non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy as well as providing resources for survivors of suicide loss.
Registration is free. To find out more, sign up to volunteer or walk at the event, please go to https://afsp.org/oakley.
