CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The inaugural Clarksville Out of the Darkness Walk will be held September 14 at Liberty Park. Hosted by the local chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, participants will be walking to call attention to suicide prevention.
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, yet suicide can be prevented.
The September event will be joining Clarksville participants to the quarter of a million people who are walking in towns across the United States to draw attention to the fight for suicide prevention.
Clarksville Out of the Darkness Community Walk is set for September 14 at Liberty Park. Check in for the walk starts at 9:00 a.m. Online registration closes at noon the Friday before the walk. The walk will begin at 10:00 a.m.
Event organizers are encouraging involvement at all levels. Whether you are a suicide loss survivor, someone who struggles with depression and/or suicidal thoughts, or someone who supports the cause, you are welcome. Participants are encouraged to bring a photo of the loved one they want to honor.
The event is family and pet friendly.
The walk will be a time of hope, healing, creativity, and unity. There will be music, snacks, an art project, and resource agencies.
“Suicide touches one in five American families, including my own. We hope that by walking we will draw attention to this issue and keep other families from experiencing a suicide loss,” said Kim Leipheimer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention local volunteer. “Our ultimate goal is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.”
This walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s education and support programs and its goal to reduce the annual U.S. rate of suicide 20 percent by the year 2025. For more information on the local walk, follow their Facebook event page.