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Even as we begin plans for the 2009 Out of the Darkness Community Walk, it feels good to remember and to share the wonderful experience of last year’s. We’ve put together a pictorial of memories along with personal comments from individuals who were present during this meaningful day:
PICTORIAL OF 2008 OUT OF THE DARKNESS COMMUNITY WALK
(page 1 of 3)
September 13, 2008
Mount Trashmore
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Special thanks to our photographers for making the pictorial possible - Hyunsoo Leo Kim, Jerry Altarez, Gabe Romero & Kitty Katz.
Jerry Altarez
Our local sponsor, the Hampton Roads Survivors of Suicide Support Group and our national sponsor, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, were eager to welcome everyone to the Out of the Darkness Community Walk!
Mt. Trashmore at Virginia Beach, with its lake mountain and accommodations, was a beautiful location for our Walk.
Hyunsoo Leo Kim
Hyunsoo Leo Kim
Everyone needed to check in whether pre-registered or not. Twelve volunteers, headed by Susan Rowe and Julie Stevens, from TowneBank were available to assist over 800 participants! They did a great job.
Jerry Altarez
Many people added personal messages to the 2008 banner which was signed during the Walk.
Jerry Altarez
If you lost a loved one to suicide, you were invited to wear a colored armband to remember them: purple for a child lost, red for a parent, blue for a spouse, green for a sibling and gold if it were another relationship.
Hyunsoo Leo Kim
Kitty Katz
We had many generous and caring sponsors. If you raised over $150 to donate to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, you were given an Out of the Darkness Community T-shirt. Any money raised funded research, education and treatment programs to prevent suicide. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is our country's only non-profit organization exclusively to prevent suicide.
Hyunsoo Leo Kim
You also had a chance to order a T-Shirt with the crane symbol on it; it was especially designed for the Walk by Susan Romero.
Hyunsoo Leo Kim
Three of our sponsors provided great breakfast: Chick-Fil-A, Flowers Bakery of Norfolk and Starbucks.
Jerry Altarez
Gabe Romero
There was an activity table for children of any age to make different crafts.
Tom Gilchrist
The crane, an international symbol of hope, healing and peace, was chosen to represent the Walk. Legend has it that if you fold 1,000 origami cranes your prayers will be answered. Members of SOS made 1,000 folding into each a prayer for those who died by suicide and for those struggling with depression -- a symbol of our hope to bring depression and suicide out of the darkness into the light. The starting point of the Walk was marked by a curtain of these cranes. It was beautiful! Volunteers and staff of the Walk provided instruction and support in learning how to create your own crane -- with 26 folds. It may be seem hard at first -- but you can do it. (see:
Legend of the Crane)
Hyunsoo Leo Kim
Kitty Katz
Frizbees were available to decorate as a way to convey a message and as a keepsake -- but also fun to fly off Mt Trashmore
Hyunsoo Leo Kim
Hyunsoo Leo Kim
There was a Memory Wall for individuals who lost a loved one to suicide for adding pictures or notes and to honor them. There was a quote to add a healing perspective: "Our loved ones are not defined by the way they died. They are defined by the way they lived."
Hyunsoo Leo Kim
Kitty Katz
Ten clinically licensed mental health professionals were available.
Back Row: Barry Katz, Lisa Creef, Rick Jaglowski, Bob Paull, Anne Graham, Christy Letsom, Teresa Gadoy
Front Row; Doris Mitnick, Mary Reeves (Amy Riccio - not pictured)
Kitty Katz
Jerry Altarez
Please go to page 2 of our pictorial by clicking here
