For thirteen years, the Long Island Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has worked tirelessly to bring our community a top ranked walk. There are over 350 of these community walks per year taking place in all 50 states.
Long Island has one of the largest of these walks, and continues to grow every year. It is an experience unlike any other out there because every person is there for different, yet connected, reasons. I have been lucky enough to witness astounding growth in these past 6 years, so I wanted to give those who have not yet attended a window into the experience.
When you first walk up to Jones Beach in field five, you are greeted by volunteers who help direct you to registration as well as a large Out of the Darkness banner along the fence indicating you are definitely in the right spot.
Once you are registered and checked in, you have so many options before it is time to walk. Among these is the vendor section, hosting more than a dozen tables from local resources. It connects the community with something we often feel an absence of: support.
There is a small pop up store, proudly displaying "Be The Voice #stopsuicide" across t-shirts, hats and more. Although Jones Beach did not allow dogs to walk, you could buy your four-legged best friend their very own walk bandana. You also can fuel up at our food tent where volunteers help distribute the bagels, fruit, and other goodies donated by businesses all across long Island.
Then there are reminders of why so many people attend the event: the tribute tent and memory beads. Often, we cannot find the words to describe our loss. We do not want to forget the reason we are walking, but verbal communication does not do justice for the memories.
This is why we have beads. Each color represents a reason why the person is walking, as seen in the list below. During the opening ceremony, people speak about their color and why they are walking. It is an emotional moment as we remember why we joined the fight, but also incredibly empowering as we realize how far we have come.
After the walk, I sat in my car for a moment to really reflect. Here was a huge community who had such personal fights all supporting each other in a very public way. It was powerful, moving, exhilarating and touching to be working with a foundation whose mission is to "save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide."
I think everybody should experience an Out of the Darkness Walk. It is something that, personally, changed my life forever.
For additional information or to find your local chapter, go to afsp.org
If you or somebody you know is in a crisis, please call the Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
