Grand Rapids Suicide Prevention Fundraiser and Community Walk Registration Tonight

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is hosting their annual Out of the Darkness Walk on September 16th and tonight is the registration party!

Harmony Brewing is opening its doors for an all-day fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in West Michigan.  The event begins at 11 AM and will last until 10 PM with $1 per beer proceeds benefitting continued education and outreach for suicide prevention in West Michigan.  From 5 PM to 10 PM the AFSP will be accepting pre-registrations for individuals and teams for the September 16th Out of The Darkness Walk.

Harmony Eastown - 1551 Lake Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506

• 10% of food and $1 per beer proceeds benefit continued education and outreach for suicide prevention in West Michigan (11:00 AM - 10:00 PM)
• Preregistration Team/Individual Sign-Up and Information (5:00 PM - 10:00 PM)

WALK TO SAVE LIVES... In the United States, a person dies by suicide every 15 minutes, claiming more than 34,000 lives each year. It is estimated that an attempt is made every minute; with close to one million people attempting suicide annually. With your participation, you will not just be walking, and your donors will not just be writing a check - you will be helping to save lives. By walking in the Out of the Darkness Community Walks to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), you will be walking with thousands of people nationwide to raise money for AFSP's vital research and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national awareness about depression and suicide, advocate for mental health issues, and assist survivors of suicide loss. WHY WE WALK WALK TO HONOR A LOVED ONE Many walk in memory of a loved one lost to suicide. AFSP provides opportunities for survivors of suicide loss to connect with each other and get involved through a wide variety of educational, outreach, awareness, advocacy and fundraising programs. Each walk site has its own unique remembrance activity in which you can participate to honor a loved one. WALK TO SUPPORT THE CAUSE Those who have struggled personally with mental illness or suicide, those who come to support a friend or family member, those who are passionate about mental health education and advocacy also participate in the Out of the Darkness Community Walks. WALK TO RAISE AWARENESS AFSP funds research aimed at improving our understanding of suicide and ways to prevent it as well as educational activities to increase awareness about prevention, warning signs and the psychiatric illnesses that can lead to suicide. People need to be aware of this public health issue. By deciding to walk you are taking us a step closer to making suicide prevention a national priority.

Thanks to our Walkers and Donors, AFSP has been able to set a goal to reduce the annual suicide rate 20% by 2025.

[Via AFSP West Michigan Facebook Page]