By Mary Corrado
Editor
Every 18 minutes in the U.S., someone dies by suicide. This year thousands of men and women will walk in over 40 communities across the United States, each contributing their voices to break the silence surrounding suicide. The walk in Chicago takes place from sunset to sunrise July 16-17, and will benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), which works to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national awareness about depression and suicide, and assist survivors of suicide loss.
North Center resident Stella Peters is walking in memory of her son Sean Barnes. On her Web site, listed below, she writes, "At age 19, on May 20, 2002, my son, Sean David Barnes, suffering from a series of losses in his life and much pain in his heart, hung himself in the garage. Sean had a gift for making friends, listening to them and being there for them – even saving some of them from suicide. He’d get us to drive them around or help them out. He loved the homeless - young friends he brought home to us, and older ones he hung out with in the park. Our neighbors say he always had a helping hand, our friends say he always had a warm greeting and a smile." Stella hopes to personally raise $1,000 for suicide prevention with the Out of the Darkness Community Walk this weekend. To make a donation in Sean’s memory, please visit www.theovernight.org/seandavidbarnes.
Opening ceremonies for Out of the Darkness will take place at 6:30 p.m. in Soldier Field, with guest speakers and an emotional torch lighting ceremony. At 6:50 p.m., all walkers leave Soldier Field to begin the 20-mile overnight journey. The 18 Mile - Marker Illuminaria will happen at 2 a.m. at Jane Addams Park. Each participant will begin to line the walk route with white paper bags filled with battery-operated tea lights; names of loved ones can be written on the bag. Then at 5:30 a.m., participants will enter Soldier Field en masse for spiritual closing ceremonies featuring a gospel choir, torch ceremony and guest speakers. |
