Thousands to Walk From Dusk Until Dawn To Fight Suicide in San Diego and Washington, D.C.
Registration Opens for the 2017 Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk: theovernight.org
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is proud to announce the cities where its two Out of the Darkness Overnight Walks will be held in 2017. The Overnight Walk will be held in San Diego on May 20, 2017 and in Washington, D.C. on June 17, 2017. The Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk is the largest annual fundraiser held by AFSP.
Participants from across the country walk more than 16 miles from sunset until sunrise to raise money and awareness for suicide prevention. Money raised from the walks support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. AFSP funds research, creates educational programs, advocates for public policy, and supports survivors of suicide loss.
"We must do more to prevent suicide in our country. To ensure this happens, AFSP set a bold goal to reduce the rate of suicide 20 percent by 2025, but we know that we can't do this alone," said AFSP CEO Robert Gebbia. "Because of our dedicated Overnight walkers, who walk all night to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention, we are optimistic that we will achieve our goal and save thousands of lives."
Each walker raises a minimum of $1,000 to participate in the Overnight walk. Since its inception in 2002, nearly 35,000 people have participated in an Overnight walk, over 7,000 people have volunteered, and over $40 million has been raised to support the cause. This is the first time the Overnight walk has been held in San Diego and the third time it has been in Washington, D.C. The first Overnight walk ever was held in Washington, D.C. and it was last there in 2013, where 2,136 people walked and over $2.7 million was raised.
The theme of this year's events focuses on raising public awareness by answering the question "I Walk Because…"
To register for the Overnight go to theovernight.org/register.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
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SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
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