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Volunteers Plan Out of the Darkness Community Walk to Fight Suicide Participants encouraged to register ahead of the September walk Altoona, PA − Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in the deaths of 47,511 Americans in 2019. To draw attention to the fight for suicide prevention, volunteers from Blair County will be uniting with more than a quarter of a million people nationwide who are participating in walks across the United States in September. The 11th annual Blair County Out of the Darkness Community Walk, hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Eastern PA Chapter and the Blair County Suicide Prevention Task Force, will be held at Lakemont Park on Sunday, September 19 at 1:00 pm. This walk supports the AFSP’s education and support programs, as well as its bold goal to reduce the national rate of suicide by 20 percent by the year 2025. “Suicide touches one in five American families,” said Cindy James, chairperson for the Blair County Out of the Darkness Community Walk committee. “We hope that by walking, we will draw attention to this issue and keep other families from experiencing a suicide loss. Out ultimate goal is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.” The Blair County Out of the Darkness Community Walk is one of more than 550 Out of the Darkness Overnight, Community, or Campus Walks being held nationwide this year. The walks are expected to unite more than 300,000 walkers and raise millions for suicide prevention efforts. In 2019, these walks raised over $21 million for suicide prevention. “These walks are about turning hope into action,” said AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia. “The research has shown us how to fight suicide, and if we keep up the fight, the science is only going to get better, and our culture will get smarter about mental health. With the efforts of our courageous volunteers and a real investment from our nation’s leaders, we hope to significantly reduce the suicide rate in the United States.” As of June 2021, local sponsors for the Blair County Out of the Darkness Community Walk include Betar Dental, CenClear, Clarion Psychiatric, Community Cares, Green Bean Coffee House, Merry Maids, Service Master, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), Integrity Construction and Windows, and Nulton Diagnostic and Treatment Center. To register as an individual or team for the walk, become a sponsor, or find more information, please visit afsp.org/blair. The committee is also seeking additional members to help plan the event. If interested in volunteering or setting up an information table, please contact Cindy James at 814-693-3023, ext. 1483 or cjames@blairco.org. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Volunteers Plan Out of the Darkness Community Walk to Fight Suicide
Participants encouraged to register ahead of the September walk
Altoona, PA − Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in the deaths of 47,511 Americans in 2019. To draw attention to the fight for suicide prevention, volunteers from Blair County will be uniting with more than a quarter of a million people nationwide who are participating in walks across the United States in September.
The 11th annual Blair County Out of the Darkness Community Walk, hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Eastern PA Chapter and the Blair County Suicide Prevention Task Force, will be held at Lakemont Park on Sunday, September 19 at 1:00 pm. This walk supports the AFSP’s education and support programs, as well as its bold goal to reduce the national rate of suicide by 20 percent by the year 2025.
“Suicide touches one in five American families,” said Cindy James, chairperson for the Blair County Out of the Darkness Community Walk committee. “We hope that by walking, we will draw attention to this issue and keep other families from experiencing a suicide loss. Out ultimate goal is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.”
The Blair County Out of the Darkness Community Walk is one of more than 550 Out of the Darkness Overnight, Community, or Campus Walks being held nationwide this year. The walks are expected to unite more than 300,000 walkers and raise millions for suicide prevention efforts. In 2019, these walks raised over $21 million for suicide prevention.
“These walks are about turning hope into action,” said AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia. “The research has shown us how to fight suicide, and if we keep up the fight, the science is only going to get better, and our culture will get smarter about mental health. With the efforts of our courageous volunteers and a real investment from our nation’s leaders, we hope to significantly reduce the suicide rate in the United States.”
As of June 2021, local sponsors for the Blair County Out of the Darkness Community Walk include Betar Dental, CenClear, Clarion Psychiatric, Community Cares, Green Bean Coffee House, Merry Maids, Service Master, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), Integrity Construction and Windows, and Nulton Diagnostic and Treatment Center.
To register as an individual or team for the walk, become a sponsor, or find more information, please visit afsp.org/blair. The committee is also seeking additional members to help plan the event. If interested in volunteering or setting up an information table, please contact Cindy James at 814-693-3023, ext. 1483 or cjames@blairco.org.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.