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Where and When

Where: Mount Trashmore 310 Edwin Drive Virginia Beach, VA

When: Saturday September 11, 2010 Check-in: 8:30 AM

Location

The following was the schedule for the 2009 Walk. Although the 2010 Walk will vary in some details, the general format will be similar as our goals will remain the same. Please continue to follow our Website for updates.

Schedule of Events
8:30-9:30	CHECK IN:	Everyone needs to check in at the Registration Table whether pre-registered or initial registering. This is also where you can turn in any money collected and your quilt ticket stub.
	Beginning at this time & continuing throughout the Walk	COMPLIMENTARY REFRESHMENTS from Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks, and Flowers Bakery of Norfolk.
		PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, TO HAND OUT INFORMATION AND ASSIST YOU WITH A DEPRESSION INVENTORY.
		CHILDREN’S CORNER
		MEMORY WALL
		LEARNING-TO-FOLD-A-CRANE-TABLE
		MUSIC PROVIDED BY ASTRO DISC JOCKEYS WITH JOHNNY FLEX
9:30 – 10:30	A PROGRAM OF REMEMBRANCE, CELEBRATION OF LIFE AND HOPE FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION. Opened with a “Welcome” by Eric Harryman, an anchor with WAVY-TV 10 and FOX 43. Betsy Wright Rhodes, a religion columnist of the Virginian-Pilot & Richard Wentz, the Executive Director of the Portsmouth YMCA will be speakers. Captain Jon greene will read the names of loved ones lost to suicide in remembrance.
10:30	THE WALK STARTS BY THE CURTAIN MADE OF 1,000 CRANES:
	We invite everyone after the Walk to select a crane to take as a memento of this special event.
11:00 – 12:30	POST-WALK PICNIC: The 2009 Walk will end at 12:30.
	Bring your families, friends, and a picnic lunch & a picnic blanket or foldable chairs to enjoy after the Walk. We will have a great band, "Ben Phelps Project", playing. We will offer complimentary servings of Rita’s Italian Ice custard.
12:00 noon	The drawing for the Crane “Peace” Quilt will take place on the stage. This quilt is a gift from the Hampton Roads Survivors of Suicide Support Group. Be sure to bring the ticket with you to the Walk. (click here to view last year's quilt) You'll receive your ticket in the mail if you pre-register.

Whether you plan to walk or just to be present as a part of the program and other activities or - - whether you plan to raise money or not - - YOU ARE VERY WELCOME! Together, we can raise awareness of depression to prevent suicide.

Walk Activities

For individuals walking, you may choose to have sponsors supporting you as a way to raise money which goes to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, our nation’s only non-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing suicide.  Every 83.5 cents of every dollar goes directly to AFSP’s programs of research, education and treatment.  Sponsors can make contributions based on how far you walk or just by virtue of you walking. As a gesture or appreciation, if you raise $150 or more, you will be given a free AFSP Out of the Darkness Community Walk T-Shirt.

Great Complimentary Refreshments are provided by Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks, Flowers Bakery of Norfolk and Rita's Italian Ice.

Mental Health professionals will be available to assist you in any way.  You may have questions or just need some support.  We will have a number of hand-outs for children, teens, and adults to give you including topics of: suicide, bereavement, signs of depression and steps to take to treat depression.  We will have a Depression Inventory that you can fill out with professional help available.

The Memory Wall is a beautiful way to pay tribute if you have had someone die by suicide.  Please add a memento (picture, a note, etc.) of your loved one to remember and to celebrate the life they lived. For more information, click here.

The crane has been chosen by Hampton Roads Survivors of Suicide Support Group as a symbol of this event.  Our S.O.S. Community chose the crane to represent our Walk as it has become an international symbol of healing, happiness and hope. In ancient Japan, people believed the crane lived for a thousand years. Legend has it that if you fold 1,000 cranes, one for each year, your prayers will be answered. We have made 1,000 which will be strung together to mark the starting point of the Walk. The prayer that we have folded into the 26 creases it takes to make each crane, is for peace, not only for those who have died from suicide, but also for those who presently suffer from depression. Everyone who is part of the Walk is invited to select a crane as a memento of this special day. 

There will be a Crane-Folding table where volunteers will demonstrate and instruct you on how to make an origami crane.  It may look too hard; but you can do it! And, it’s fun.

A Children’s Corner will be set up for children and their families.  There will be fun writing and craft activities.  In age-appropriate ways the activities, books, plus hand-outs will carry themes of healthy coping, depression, suicide, and dealing with emotions.

Our Program of Remembrance, Celebration and Hope for suicide prevention will begin with a "Welcome" by Eric Harryman, an anchor with WAVY TV-10 and Fox 43.  It will also include messages of information about depression, suicide prevention and hope. Betsy Wright Rhodes, who writes the column, "Issues of Faith", from the Virginian-Pilot, and Richard Wentz the Executive Director of the Portsmouth YMCA, will add their personal stories regarding depression & suicide.

There will be a moment of remembrance when we read the names of loved ones lost to suicide. Read on our website "A Way to Remember" for instructions (click here) on how to include a name.

Everyone is welcome to the After-Walk Picnic which will be held from 11:00 – 1:00.  At any time in the morning, you can set up your own food and drinks on the picnic tables here.  We will have attendants present to watch over your personals.  Complimentary servings of Rita’s Italian Ice custard will be available along with music from Ben Phelps Project Band. 

At 12:00 at the stage, the drawing for the Crane "Peace" Quilt will take place.  Be sure to bring your quilt ticket to the Walk for the drawing - - this is a beautiful gift to wish you peace.  (click here to view 2009's quilt)