Movement of quarter million people joined by local participants in Hays
News release
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, yet suicide can be prevented. Volunteers from western Kansas are joining the quarter of a million people who are walking in towns across the United States to draw attention to the fight for suicide prevention. The annual Hays Area Out of the Darkness Community Walk, hosted by the Greater Kansas Chapter will be held at 2 p.m. Sept 17 at Municipal Park in Hays. This walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s education and support programs and its bold goal to reduce the annual U.S. rate of suicide 20 percent by the year 2025.
Registration is available online at www.afsp.org/hays, or onsite on Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. Register early and raise $150 and you will receive a free walk T-shirt.
“Suicide touches one in five American families. We hope that by walking we will draw attention to this issue and keep other families from experiencing a suicide loss. Our ultimate goal is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide,” said Kyle Carlin, Hays Area Walk co-chair.
The Hays Area Out of the Darkness Community Walk is one of more than 550 Out of the Darkness Overnight, Community and 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. Last year, these walks raised over $21 million for suicide prevention. Last year this local walk, raised over $6000 and had 87participants.
Speakers at the Hays Area Out of the Darkness Community Walk will include former FHSU President Ed Hammond.
“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.”
Local sponsors for the Hays Area Out of the Darkness Walk include High Plains Mental Health Center, Camber Children’s Mental Health, Bank of Hays, A-1 Scaffolding, and McDonalds. Applebees of Hays is also supporting the walk with a Together We Care event on September 13, where 50% of orders from the special menu will be donated to the Hays Area Walk.
Register for the walk at www.afsp.com/hays.
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.