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Out of the Darkness

 

It will be the most comforting, nurturing stroll  these folks take this year. Hundreds will traverse the Walkway Over the Hudson this fall during the Out of the Darkness Community Walk sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

You’ll see teams of walkers sporting T shirts with the names and faces of loved ones lost to suicide. They will  wear a variety of colored beads, each signifying  a particular form of loss- white beads mean the loss of a child;  orange, the loss of a sibling;  gold, the loss of a parent. If you struggle with your own thoughts of suicide, there are green beads there for you.

Thomas Sherwood and his wife Marie will be walking with Team Joe. Thomas will wear orange  in honor of his brother Joey who died five years ago. They will be joined by Joey’s widow Joy- she’ll be wearing red.

The mood will be, at times, surprisingly upbeat, because they are a gathering of kindred spirits – they understand what each other is going through far better than the outside world can know. Their mantra is “You’re not alone”. That’s where the nurturing and comforting come in.

But there will be somber reflection too as  people step to the microphone to tell of their loss ” I am wearing white today because I lost my twin boys, both of them” Their words yank at your heart. Maybe these expressions are cathartic for them- I hope so.

But this event is also a fundraiser. The teams seek donations to help support the important work that the AFSP does.

They teach grade schoolers about mental health, continue research into what causes people to attempt suicide, and educate the general population about what behaviors to look for and how to get help for someone who exhibits those warning signs.

The AFSP mission is to decrease suicides  20% by 2025.

Thomas is raising funds now. If you would like to support him please go here: https://afsp.donordrive.com/participant/Thomas-Sherwood

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US.

Nearly 50,000 Americans die each year from suicide.

To learn more about AFSP’s good work visit https://afsp.org/

To learn more about the Out of the Darkness Dutchess/Ulster County Community Walk on Sept. 27th visit:  http://sportingacause.com/event/dutchess-ulster-…s-community-walk/

To learn more about the Out of the Darkness Berkshire County Community Walk on Oct. 3rd visit:   http://sportingacause.com/event/out-of-the-darkn…re-county-walk-2/.

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