Leading up to the 2016 Greater Augusta Out of the Darkness Walk in Staunton, Augusta Free Press shares #WhyIWalk profiles of local people and why they are choosing to walk on October 8.
Register for free to walk or learn more at bit.ly/2awG5aT.
I walk because it is symbolic of the journey I’ve had as a suicide loss survivor. I have lost two important people to suicide including my father who died when I was nine years old. At that time I didn’t know anyone else who had lost a parent this way. It was a very isolating experience.
Through AFSP I have experienced a unity with others who know what this unique journey is like. The walk is a place to acknowledge loss, but also celebrate life. My dad battled addiction and bi-polar disorder, but that wasn’t all he was. He was a writer, a musician, a motorcycle enthusiast, an outdoorsman, a hard worker, served in the Navy, had an infectious sense of humor, and was often described as a “give you the shirt off his back” kind of guy.
I believe silence is the greatest weapon of mental illness. It’s also the greatest weapon that keeps survivors of suicide loss isolated in their grief. I walk because it’s my way of breaking that great vow of silence. I walk because it represents taking action. I walk to connect with others through mutual support. I walk because it is a way to honor those we’ve lost, and celebrate those that remain. The journey is not an easy one, but you aren’t alone. The worst thing that has happened to you doesn’t have to define or destroy you. This is why I walk.
#WhyIWalk: Greater Augusta Out of the Darkness
- Walk With Us on October 8
- Walk Location: Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton
- Check-in/Registration Time: 10/08/2016 at 8:00 am
- Walk Begins: 10:00 am
- Walk Ends: 12:30 pm
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