Walk To End Suicide This Weekend At Jones Beach

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will be holding its annual Lon Island Out of the Darkness Community Walk on Saturday at Jones Beach.

More than 5,000 people are expected to participate in the walk and raise more than $400,000 to support the AFSP both locally and nationally. The AFSP hopes to reduce the annual rate of suicide by 20 percent by 20205.

"Suicide affects 1 in 5 American families," said Sharon Sturiano-Rocco, Long Island Board Chair AFSP. "I am walking to bring awareness to this leading cause of death and let people know that they are not alone. Help is out there for those who live with a mental health condition and to support for those who have lost a loved one to suicide."

The walk is scheduled for Field 5 at Jones Beach, rain or shine. Check in and registration for the walk starts at 8:30 a.m., and the walk steps off at 10 a.m. The walk will conclude by 1 p.m. It is a 5K walk along the Jones Beach boardwalk. Participants may walk as much or little of the course as they want, at their own pace. It is a non-competitive walk.

Participants are encouraged to arrive at 8:30 a.m., when registration opens, to participate in pre-walk activities. There will be a temporary tattoo parlor, an honor bead necklace station, a pop-up store to purchase AFSP merchandise and raffle tickets and more.

Online registration for the walk is open until noon on Friday. Registration can be done in-person at the walk after that. There is no fee to participate, though fundraising is encouraged. Funds can be donated to the walk until Dec. 31.

For more information on the walk and how to register, click here.

Photo: The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention