Out of the Darkness Community Walk

On September 19, the annual 'Out of the Darkness Community Walk' will take place at Gallup Park in Ann Arbor to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

This is the local version of a national effort to raise money for various suicide prevention initiatives, including funding clinical research and providing help to those in need.

There are also several other local walks on subsequent weekends, including the Downriver walk in Brownstown on October 10 in which my wife, Jackie, and I are participating.

This is a cause dear to our hearts, as Jackie's brother, Eddie, took his own life just over three weeks ago.

We will be walking in his honor at the Brownstown event, given the location was the best fit for all of Eddie's family and friends who were looking to participate. Many live in the surrounding area.

However, if you can participate locally in Ann Arbor, or at any of the other walks listed on the Web site, please do so.

You can also sponsor a walker if you would like.

The AFSP says 90 people die by suicide every day in the United States, and that 2,300 more attempt to kill themselves.

This is staggering.

Please help in any way you can. Walk, donate, spread the word, whatever.

Our team is called 'Team Edziu.' Here's the link:

http://afsp.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.team&eventID=1052&teamID=17152

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Web site is www.afsp.org.