‘Out of the Darkness’ walk for suicide prevention in Huron
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HURON – Action taken toward a crucial movement made substantial progress in the community on Saturday, as approximately 260 people participated in Huron’s first “Out of the Darkness” walk for suicide awareness.
The event, which organizers hope to make an annual event took place at Ravine Lake, where participants were united in the vision of diminishing acts of suicide, through raising awareness and funds for mental health advancements.
Joann Smith introduced the movement to the Huron community this year after connecting with Angela Drake, the state chairperson of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), which is the organization that began the Out of the Darkness walks throughout the nation in 2004.
“When we lost our second son to suicide we were going to do the walk in Sioux Falls,” Smith shared. “So I contacted Angela because she runs the walk there, she said ‘why don’t you do one in Huron?’ and that’s how it happened.”
As there were no registration fees for the event, all the funds were raised through donations, sponsors, plus merchandise and raffle ticket sales, as an impressive amount of $17,595 was reached, far surpassing the $10,000 goal.
Proceeds go toward research studies, developing educational programs to offer essential information to the public of how to detect risk and prevent suicide, plus coping methods and various other forms of support for people who are battling with mental health disorders, as well as those who are affected by loss.
“The generosity and support we have received has been overwhelming,” Drake commented. “I have worked with the organization for two years, after I lost my daughter Brittany two and a half years ago. I have been involved in looking for resources of support for mental health for some time before that. I decided to use the grief I had from my loss to channel hope for others.”
Drake’s parents shared their thoughts on the positivity that was accumulated by the amount of people that attended the walk, “It is impressive to see all the support we got from the Huron area,” said Denis and Terri Drake.
As people prepared to walk around the lake during registration time, there was an opening ceremony conducted by Drake, where she welcomed everyone and offered thanks for their participation in honoring memories of those lost to suicide, while making a difference in the world to fight the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S.
PHOTOS BY ANGELINA DELLA ROCCO/PLAINSMAN
Approximately 260 people who have seen their lives touched by suicide participated in the first “Out of the Darkness” suicide awareness walk at Ravine Lake on Saturday morning.