Katie Pizza
Staff Writer

Suicide is not a comfortable topic for many - a harsh, abrupt end to a life cherished by others.

However, local community members are working to replace that stigma with hope and education this Sunday by holding a walk to raise awareness about suicide.

“I really feel that there is a need,” Krista Kennedy, co-chair of the walk, said.

The second annual Out of the Darkness Community Walk is at Williston’s Spring Lake Park from 2-3:30 p.m. Check-in is from 1-2 p.m. at the park. Kennedy said registration is free and all are welcome to take part in the walk. Kennedy said the walk can be many different things to many different people �” whether someone is walking in memory of a person who took their life or simply walking to support the cause.

Kennedy said the community has been hit with several suicides in the last few years and the issue must be brought to the forefront.

“It’s something that has been really hard on the community, something that people really need to talk about and be aware of,” she said.

The Rev. David Halaas of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church said it is obvious when a suicide happens in the community.

“There is a lot of grief and concern,” he said.

Event co-chair Peggy Bearce said the pain of suicide can hit closer to home as well.

“You feel guilt,” she said. “Like ‘What could I have done?’”

Kennedy said the death of someone close is also painful because of how abrupt the death is.

“There’s no closure,” she said.

However, the event also serves as a resource for people who are coping with the death of someone they know in order to come to terms with how that person’s life ended.

A resource table is also slated to contain information about the mental disorders often associated with suicide.

Bearce said it helps to be aware of the warning signs such as when a person is experiencing a large life event.

“Teenagers that have just gone through a break-up, they think it’s the end of the world,” Bearce said.

The event features resources about suicide provided by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Kennedy said half of the money raised goes to the foundation, which funds research, education, survivor and awareness programs.

The other half, she said, is staying in the community to fund local programs.

One such program is the suicide support group which meets at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Kennedy said all are welcome, no matter how suicide affected them or someone close to them.

Kennedy said the group was started with funds from last year’s walk �” which had 150 walkers and raised $10,000. She said the goal is to raise even more money this year.

“We’re just shy of our halfway goal,” she said.

So far, 25 participants are registered, although Kennedy said that number tends to go up fast on the day of the walk as people sign up at the site. However, walking is not the only way people can show their support.

“We’re still looking for volunteers,” she said.

Volunteers can help by giving water to walkers, cooking slushburgers, putting up banners and setting up the site.

“There’s so much that a person can do,” she said.

The walk ends at 3:30 p.m., with Carmen Richards, president of the church-wide Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, speaking about her loss.

“We’ll sing a couple of songs and have an open mic if people want to speak about their loss,” Bearce said, calling last year’s event very emotional.

For more information call Peggy Bearce at 774-0749.