CELINA — People from throughout Mercer County will participate in the Out of the Darkness Community Walk on Saturday. The fundraiser supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention by helping to support local and national suicide prevention and awareness programs.
The Mercer County Out of the Darkness Walk is one of nearly 250 such events being held this fall nationwide. The walks are expected to unite more than 100,000 walkers nationally and raise money for suicide prevention efforts.
“Our hope is that this walk will not only help raise funds for research, but will help people understand suicide and it’s affects on family and friends. It will also help local people affected by suicide loss and support our survivors by providing support groups and more,” committee member James Byron said in a prepared statement.
The walk will begin at Mercer County fairgrounds at 8 am. for registration and end at about noon. Opening ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. and the walk officially starts at 9:15 a.m.
It is estimated that close to 1 million Americans make a suicide attempt, more than 36,000 die by suicide, and more than 20 million suffer from depression each year. According to the statement, in Mercer County over the last five years more than 50 people have lost their lives to suicide, more than 300 people have threatened suicide and nearly 280 people have attempted suicide. This walk is to bring awareness and hope for those who struggle with life, organizers said.
