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Suicide Walk draws large numbers

PARKERSBURG — More than 500 people came out to City Park on Saturday for the ninth annual Out of the Darkness Mid-Ohio Valley Community Walk, an event aimed at suicide prevention by spreading awareness to fight suicide.

The walk is sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the nation’s largest non-profit dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide.

All money raised goes not only to the AFSP, but also comes back to West Virginia for the 76th Chapter of the AFSP.

Registration for the walk began at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and at 10 a.m., Dr. Heather McCarter, one of the co-founders of the AFSP West Virginia Chapter, had everyone attending the walk meet by the bandshell where a military flag and “Taps” ceremony was presented by the Williamstown American Legion Color Guard.

There was also a small speech given by McCarter to everyone explaining where exactly the money raised at the walk will be going, as well as the opening ceremony for the walk, otherwise known as the “Honor Beads Ceremony” according to McCarter.

Nine different colored beads were handed out before the opening ceremony, with each color representing something different in terms of suicide awareness. White beads represented the loss of a child, red presented the loss of a spouse or partner, gold represented the loss of a parent, orange represented the loss of a sibling, purple represented the loss of a relative or friend, silver represented the loss of a first responder or military, green represented the personal struggle or attempt, blue represented those supporting suicide prevention and teal represented a friend or family member of someone who struggles or has attempted.

Everyone who attended was able to take the color beads that best fit them personally. Nine individuals stood on stage  during the “Honor Beads Ceremony,” with each person standing on stage to represent each color bead.

One of the people on stage was First Sgt. Vernon Cosner, with the 224th Aviation, who said coming to the walk was a struggle for him, because in 2013 he contemplated suicide. He said he is now a advocate of suicide prevention. Saturday’s walk was his first and Cosner said he was proud to be a participant.

Waylon Tyler Westbrook was also one of those standing on stage, saying he was there because he lost his brother to suicide a year ago and “to help raise money and raise awareness for suicide.”

The goal for the walk was to raise $30,000 and according to Michelle Toman, the other co-founders of the AFSP West Virginia Chapter, the goal was reached. An exact count of how much money was raised was not yet available Saturday.

“There’s nothing more important than what we are doing in bringing survivors of loss and those struggling together for support. That itself is a beautiful thing in spite of the storm we find ourselves standing in,” said Toman.

After the “Honors Beads Ceremony” was over, everyone who participated in the event began the walk. The walk was two laps around City Park.

Following the walk, around noon, everyone gathered at the bandshell where they were given balloons. Each person who was given a balloon was able to write a note to a loved one they had lost and everyone released their balloon at the same time, with over 200 balloons flying into the sky.

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