Bellmore, NY - July 21, 2017 - Each September, as the culminating event on Long Island of Suicide Awareness Month, Long Island Crisis Center hosts its annual suicide prevention and awareness walk, Let’s Walk, Let’s Talk…Stepping Together To Prevent Suicide. This year, it is being held on Sunday, September 17th on the Long Beach Boardwalk at Laurelton Blvd. The Walk, which draws hundreds of individuals and families each year, carries a particularly hopeful message.
“Those who have attended the Walk in the past know that it is a moving and inspiring event. It allows individuals – young and old – to come together, walk as one community, and raise awareness of suicide prevention on Long Island,” explains Executive Director Linda Leonard. “For our 2017 Walk, the 9th Annual, we are coming together to spread this message…for those who have lost a loved one to suicide, for those facing a life crisis themselves and for those who feel as though there is no hope, we are here for you. At Long Island Crisis Center, no one walks alone.”
This message of hope and unity can also be found in one woman’s reflection of last year’s event: “I just want to express my gratitude to all of you for today. 5 months ago our lives changed in a way that nobody can grasp. The love I felt today will forever hold a place in my heart. One of the staff saw me hysterically crying, putting my cousin’s pictures up [on the Wall of Remembrance] and asked if it was okay to hug me. I have never in my life felt so much love from strangers. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making my first walk a very loving experience.”
On-site registration begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by a brief program and awards ceremony at 11:00 a.m. The Walk will begin at 11:30 a.m., and the minimum suggested donation is $25 per walker. Those interested in pre-registering themselves or creating a team can do so at www.longislandcrisiscenter.org/thewalk.