Neighbor News
Camden County OUT OF THE DARKNESS WALK BENEFITING SUICIDE PREVENTION celebrates its 6th anniversary in South Jersey
More than 500 people are expected to participate in the upcoming Out of the Darkness Community Walk on August 2, 2015 at Cooper River.
The fundraising walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) by helping to support local and national suicide prevention and awareness programs. The Camden County Out of the Darkness Walk is one of more than 300 Out of the Darkness Community Walks (www.outofthedarkness.org) being held this fall nationwide. The walks are expected to unite more than 100,000 walkers nationally and raise more than $11 million for suicide prevention efforts.
“Much more needs to be done to prevent suicide. Yet, suicide and the underlying mental disorders that can sometimes lead to suicide continue to be surrounded by misinformation and stigma,” said Stacey Collins, Walk Chair. “This walk is about reducing that stigma, raising awareness and raising needed funds for research and local prevention programs.” Collins continued “Each year we reach more and more survivors of suicide loss – giving them hope and letting them know they are not alone. The first year we had 156 walkers participate and raise $3,902. Last year those numbers grew to an astonishing 569 walkers raising over $17,000! We hope to see even higher numbers this year.”
The Camden County community walk will begin at Cooper River Park in Pennsauken at 10:00am (check- in and registration begins at 9:00am). Please join us to meet new friends and greet old ones as we walk to save lives and honor loved ones.
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It is estimated that close to 1 million Americans make a suicide attempt, more than 40,000 die by suicide, and more than 20 million suffer from depression each year.
“Every 14 minutes someone dies by suicide in the U.S,” said Robert Gebbia, Executive Director for AFSP. “This fall, thousands will be walking to raise money for prevention and awareness, and offer hope to the millions of people who have lost a loved one to suicide or who battle personally with depression, bipolar illness, addiction and other mental illnesses”.
About the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy as well as to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide. For more information please visit www.afsp.org.
