The Out of the Darkness walk, a suicide prevention fundraiser, had their seventh annual event on Nov 3, hosted at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, Connecticut.
A number of groups created booths before the walk to provide information regarding the cognitive aspects of depression and anxiety, as well as to support suicide prevention.
Staples groups including Inklings and the Teen Awareness Group registered for the walk and participated in fundraising. A total of $135,354 was raised collectively by all participants of the walk.
The conditions were rainy and chilly, with temperatures in the 40s, so participants bundled up in sweatshirts and jackets in order to complete the walk in warmth.
Free "honor beads" were available, each color bead having a distinct meaning: white symbolized the loss of a child, red for a lost spouse, gold for a lost parent, orange for a lost sibling, purple for a lost relative or friend, silver for a lost first responder or military member, green to symbolize a personal struggle, blue to show encouragement of preventing suicide and depression and teal to display support for friends and/or family of someone who struggles.
Many groups had designated shirts to represent their specific team. Above is a photo of Elaine Daignault’s, an advisor of Teen Awareness Group, dog, Milo, supporting his TAG team in the organization's shirt.