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The 15th annual Blair County Out of the Darkness Community Walk, hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Eastern PA Chapter and the Blair County Suicide Prevention Task Force, will be held on Sunday, Sept. 14, at Lakemont Park.
Check-in and pre-walk activities, such as participating in remembrance crafts and supporting local food vendors, will begin at 9:30 a.m. The walk will occur from 11 a.m. to noon.
A dedication for hope memorial will be displayed in recognition of the individuals who died by suicide. If you would like to commemorate your significant person in a special way, email the person's name and photo to blaircountysptf@gmail.com by Aug. 30.
"By fostering education and raising awareness, we can come together as a community to help prevent suicide," said Missy Peters, chairperson for the Blair County Out of the Darkness Community Walk committee.
"Our mission is to connect with those who have experienced loss, honor their stories, and use these connections to shine a light on the impact of suicide. Through shared understanding and proactive outreach, we aim to protect other families and friends from enduring similar heartbreak."
"Our goal is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide."
As of July, local sponsors for the Blair County walk include Blair County System of Care, Peerstar LLC, Pyramid Healthcare, Community Care Behavioral Health, NAMI Blair County PA, Nason Foundation, Arrow Land Solutions, DelGrosso's Foods Inc., Sheetz, Adam Zook Foundation, Okonak, Lechner & Co. and Clarion Psychiatric Center.
To register as an individual or team for the walk, become a sponsor, or find more information, visit afsp.org/blair.
The committee is also seeking additional members to help plan the event. If interested in volunteering or setting up an information/vendor table, email blaircountysptf@gmail.com.