Out of the Darkness Walk to raise money to support suicide prevention programs
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on September 21, 2017 11:38 AM
Diane Coutts organized the first Out of the Darkness Community Walk in 2014 following the suicide of her son.
She has since died, but her mission to raise awareness about suicide is being carried on.
The walk is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 30, at Herman Park.
Registration will start at 9 a.m. with the walk being held from 10 a.m. to noon.
Fifty percent of all net funds raised locally will stay local to support suicide prevention programs and survivor support to the greater Goldsboro area to schools, businesses, churches and more.
The walk's goal is $5,000, and $3,650 has been raised thus far.
Online registration at www.afsp.org/goldsboro closes at noon on Friday, Sept. 29.
However, anyone who wants to walk can register in person at the walk up until the time the walk starts. As of Wednesday, 127 people had registered.
Donations will be accepted until Sunday, Dec. 31.
Organizers Shara Haddenham and Jenna Rogers, who also have been affected by suicide, have taken on the event in an effort to make it bigger and better, DeAngela Sword said.
"I was just interested in suicide prevention," said Sword, who is handling publicity for the walk. "I am interested in being aware about suicide and the prevention of it."
One concern, she said, is that someone in a person's family could be taking medication that could contribute to suicidal thoughts.
"I just believe the education piece and the awareness is how you could potentially prevent suicide from happening," she said.
Sword said when the call went out for volunteers she wanted to help.
"When you have a heart for certain things you want to put your heart and effort into things," she said. "Just getting the word out around Goldsboro, that has been my main portion with the walk."
The walk is through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention whose goal is to reduce the suicide rate by 20 percent by 2025.
Last year more than 4,600 North Carolinians walked in 18 Out of the Darkness events across the state raising nearly $314,000.
Local sponsors include Mt. Olive Pickle Co., Accucopy, Wayne UNC Health care, Shiloh Farm Ministry, Texas Roadhouse, Awards Gallery and Taqueria Zapopan.
The statewide sponsor is Cardinal Innovative Health.
For more information, call 812-568-0386 or send email to goldsboroootd@gmail.com.