Walk to Save Lives!
Suicide claimed 39,518 lives in 2011 in the United States alone, with someone dying by suicide every 13.3 minutes. A suicide attempt is made every minute of every day, resulting in nearly one million attempts made annually.
When you walk in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Walks, you join efforts with thousands of people nationwide to raise money for AFSP’s vital research and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives. The walks raise awareness about depression and suicide, and provide comfort and assistance to those who have lost someone to suicide. These walks raise funds and awareness for AFSP's vision to create a world without suicide.
The Out of the Darkness Community Walks are the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's (AFSP) signature fundraising campaign, bringing together family, friends, colleagues, and supporters at 3-5 mile walks in hundreds of communities across the country.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy as well as to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those affected by suicide.
CHARLOTTE, NC
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2014
Location: Symphony Park at South Park Mall
4400 Sharon Rd (corner of Barclay Downs Dr. & Morrison Blvd)
Registration Opens: 8:30 am
Walk: 9:30 am - 11:30 am
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LINKS:
Click here for More Information.
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DETAILS:
Registration/Check-In:
EVERYONE needs to check-in! Even if you have already registered online, we need you to stop by our registration table the morning of the walk to check-in. We want an accurate count of all of our walkers on walk day. PLEASE COME AS CLOSE TO 8:30 AS POSSIBLE
We recommend that you register online to help speed the process.
The direct link to register online for the Charlotte Walk is http://afsp.donordrive.com/event/charlotte
Plenty of PARKING: on the Barclay Downs side of the mall near Dick's Sporting Goods, Neiman Marcus, McCormick & Schmicks.
The Walk:
The walk route is approximately 3 miles; please walk as much/as little as you like.
What to Bring:
- Bring the whole family, your friends & colleagues!
- BRING PICTURES, WRITINGS, ETC. FOR OUR MEMORY BOARD
- BRING CASH - stop by our AFSP merchandise table and make a purchase!
- Please bring a chair or blanket to sit on.
- Wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket or sweater and an umbrella/poncho if the weather forecast is predicting rain.
- spring-raingear.jpg We will walk rain or shine!
- This can be an emotional event. You may also want to bring a few tissues and put them in your pocket ... just in case.
Dogs:
The Charlotte Out of the Darkness Walk welcomes our four-legged friends, as long your dog is friendly (good with children and large crowds),is kept on a leash at all times.
Please be kind and pick up after your pet.
Can my family & friends still register?
Yes! Encourage them to register online today. Click here to register for the AFSP "Out of Darkness" 2014 Walk. Or they may register the day of the walk by going to the registration table to fill out a form and sign a waiver that morning.
(Note - the walk-up registration lines are MUCH longer than the check-in lines for pre-registered walkers. So - if you know someone will be joining you at the event, strongly encourage them to register online in advance! They will thank you later.)
Recruit Others to Walk With You!
Let those around you know you are walking and that you want them there with you.
- Friends & Family should be your first asks. They know why you are walking and will want to support you.
- Co-Workers: Since Walk funds benefit our local community, your co-workers may be interested in giving back and helping people in our area.
- Your Employer: Many companies are willing to sponsor walk teams. Talk to your HR department to see if they will sponsor.
- Local Walking Groups: These groups train throughout the year - invite them to participate with you. They may be flattered that you asked and you may be surprised how many of they have a connection to suicide.
- Volunteer & Social Groups: Any groups you are involved with! Ask if your fellow members would be interested in getting involved. They might not already be involved because they don't know about the Walk!
Event T-shirts:
Those who have raised (or turn in) $150 or more will receive a t-shirt when they check-in.
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This Charlotte, NC area Mental Illness related event is shared here by NAMI-Charlotte. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness is a non-profit, grassroots, self-help support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder (manic-depression), PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder and anxiety disorders.
NAMI–Charlotte, an affiliate of both the North Carolina State and National Alliance on Mental Illness, is a non–profit 501(c)(3).
FOR MORE INFO about NAMI-Charlotte, please click here to visit our website.
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