Out Of The Darkness Community Walk photos

Jamestown (CSi)  About 40 individuals particpated in the “Out of the Darkness,” suicide awareness walk on Saturday September 12, 2015, at  McElroy Park.

Speaking at the event was Mrs. Fargo International Sara Thanel Dukart talking about her platform of bringing hope to suicide prevention.

 A registered nurse who works at Sanford Neurosurgery Clinic as a triage phone nurse for presurgery and postsurgery, she  is also a teenage suicide survivor who supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

She said, “The walks are a way to join together and support one another. We all have different stories and reasons for being here, but we have one goal — to prevent suicide.”

More photos for CSi by Matt Sheppard at Facebook

On Thursday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, local Chairperson, Margo Haut, joined Cindy Rodacker and said, the walks were created in order to help raise awareness of suicide and silence the stigma. The event will also help raise funds for local organizations and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Cindy lost her son Jason to suicide 17 years ago, when he was 19 years old. She said that, now, through public awareness that the stigma of talking about suicide has lessened, however more needs to be done to call attention to suicide prevention, and that getting professional help is okay.

Margo said that a short program will be held at 10-a.m., at the Sertoma Shelter, and features speakers, including a representative from Governor Dalrymple’s office. followed by a timed walk around the park, expected to end at 11:30-a.m.

Following the walk there will be a balloon release.

There is no cost to register. Individuals can pre-register by calling Margo Haut at 701-269-2741 or email mhaut@csicable.net.

Online registration closes at noon (local time) the Friday before the walk. However, anyone who would like to participate can register in person at the walk from the time check-in begins until the walk starts. Walk donations are accepted until December 31, 2015

You can click here to learn more about the event.

More photos for CSi by Matt Sheppard at Facebook