Thank you for participating in the 11th annual Out of the Darkness Community Walk on Sunday, October 2nd. Your support helped to raise $49,723.97 to date. Donations are still arriving every day. Whether you were one of the 1,468 walkers that day, you met us at Chilis, you made or solicited a donation your participation helped to make this our most successful.
If you have not had the opportunity to ask your friends, family or colleagues to donate, it is not too late. Donations are accepted until December 31st for the 2011 walk.
Carly, her dad - Michael Cavanaugh, Pam and Carolyn joined Trish to participate in this year's event. Another organization of women that particated was PEACE of Cake - which is part of the Mayor's Anti-Violence campaign. They baked and decorated these little peace cakes themselves. Aren't they wonderful!!!
On October 2, 2011 at the Jewish Community Center, the local chapter of AFSP will hold their 11th annual Out of the Darkness Community Walk. This signature fundraising event is expected to raise $50,000, and draw hundreds of participants from across Western Massachusetts to raise money for suicide prevention, research and education. Locally, it is headed by Lisa Bullen of Hampden, and Patricia Pupek of West Springfield. AFSP is the only national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research and education, and reaching out to people with mood disorders and those affected by suicide. Money raised will be used locally for prevention, survivor initiatives, and educational programs. Since the beginning of these community walks, participants and sponsors have raised nearly $9 million for research and education.
“Suicide and mental illness take an enormous toll on families, friends and neighbors, leaving communities across the nation devastated by this national health problem,” said Robert Gebbia, Executive Director for AFSP. This fall, the “Out of the Darkness Community Walk” will unite thousands of people with common goals of preventing suicide and ending the stigma that surrounds depression and mental illness.
Each year in the United States, close to one million people attempt suicide, and every 16 minutes someone will die. More than 34 million people suffer from depression or another mood disorder, affecting our families, friends and neighbors. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens and young adults, and the second leading cause of death for college students. Additionally, Americans over the age of 65 account for 16 percent of all suicides.
Please join us Sunday, October 2, 2011. Registration begins at 8:45 a.m. and the walk begins at 10:00 a.m. Please contact Lisa Bullen at 413-566-5046 – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Pat Pupek at 413-733-1378 – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details.
