Out of the Darkness (Community and Overnight Walks)


The Out of the Darkness Community and Overnight walks benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention by raising awareness on suicide and depression, raising money for research and education to prevent suicide from taking place, and providing assistance and a safe outlet for survivors of suicide. There are more than 30,000 suicide deaths in the United States each year. Ninety percent of those who die by suicide could have benefited from mental assistance. Someone in the U.S. dies by suicide every 16 minutes. Over $850K has been raised to date for the cause of suicide prevention and education by the AFSP through the Out of the Darkness program. The Community Walks are typically 5k.
In addition to the Community Walks, there is also an Overnight Walk, usually in only two or three host cities each year. In 2008, the walks were held in Seattle and New York, starting at 8pm and beginning to close at 5am. The Overnight, as it is called, is 20 miles.
There were 105 communities around the United States hosting Community Walks in 2007.
List of 2007 Community Walks:
AlabamaBirminghamHeardmont Park9/29/2007
CaliforniaLos AngelesSanta Monica Third Street Promenade10/7/2007
CaliforniaSan DiegoNTC Promenade in Liberty Station-Point Loma9/15/2007
CaliforniaSan FranciscoCrissy Field9/29/2007
CaliforniaYrekaWal-Mart Parking Lot9/8/2007
ColoradoDenverSloan's Lake Park10/21/2007
ConnecticutFairfield/WestportSherwood Island State Park9/30/2007
ConnecticutWest HartfordMDC Reservoir10/14/2007
DelawareDoverSilver Lake10/20/2007
District of ColumbiaWashingtonC & O Canal9/22/2007
FloridaBoca RatonPatch Reef Park10/14/2007
FloridaJacksonvilleJacksonville Beach10/27/2007
FloridaMiamiTropical Park10/27/2007
FloridaSarasotaSiesta Key Beach10/28/2007
FloridaTampa Bay AreaClearwater Beach11/17/2007
GeorgiaAtlantaPiedmont Park10/28/2007
GeorgiaWarner RobinsCohen Walker Drive10/14/2007
GeorgiaWinder/Barrow CountyFort Yargo State Park9/1/2007
IllinoisBloomington/NormalColene Hoose School10/20/2007
IllinoisChicagoBusse Woods9/29/2007
IndianaBenton CountyFowler Town Park9/16/2007
IndianaIndianapolisIndianapolis Downtown Canal9/22/2007
IowaDes MoinesGray's Lake9/23/2007
IowaMason CitySouthbridge Mall10/6/2007
KentuckyArgilliteGreenbo State Park10/20/2007
KentuckyLouisvilleSeneca Park11/3/2007
LouisianaLafayetteDowntown Lafayette9/15/2007
MaineBangorHayford Park9/30/2007
MaineHoultonHistoric Downtown Houlton9/22/2007
MainePortlandBaxter Boulevard Back Cove Trail9/9/2007
MarylandBaltimore Baltimore & Annapolis Trail10/13/2007
MarylandBrunswickC & O Canal National Historical Park10/20/2007
MarylandMontgomery County Great Falls Carderock10/6/2007
MassachusettsBoston/BrightonArtensani Park10/13/2007
MassachusettsSpringfieldJewish Community Center10/7/2007
MichiganAnn ArborPioneer High School9/16/2007
MichiganGrand RapidsMillennium Park10/6/2007
MichiganKalamazoo/Battle CreekFell Park10/13/2007
MichiganLansingPotters Park9/15/2007
MichiganMetro Detroit/Macomb CountyMetro Beach Park9/30/2007
MichiganMetro Detroit/Oakland CountyMetro Beach Park9/30/2007
MichiganMetro Detroit/Oakland CountyKensington Park10/7/2007
MinnesotaSt. PaulComo Park9/16/2007
MissouriKansas CityShawnee Mission Park in Shawnee, Kansas9/30/2007
MissouriSt. LouisForest Park11/4/2007
MontanaBillingsVeterans Park10/7/2007
MontanaKalispellDepot Park9/29/2007
NebraskaOmahaMiller's Landing Park/Riverwalk Trail9/16/2007
NevadaLas VegasLorenzi Park11/10/2007
New HampshireHanover/LebanonDartmouth College11/4/2007
New HampshirePortsmouthPrescott Park9/29/2007
New JerseyAtlantic CountyOscar E. McClinton Waterfront Park8/18/2007
New JerseyBridgewaterDuke Island Park7/29/2007
New JerseyNew BrunswickBuccleuch Park10/14/2007
New YorkBuffaloSouth Park9/30/2007
New YorkCapital Region Saratoga Race Course9/16/2007
New YorkCatskillCatskill Elks Club10/7/2007
New YorkFredoniaSUNY Fredonia Campus10/6/2007
New YorkLong IslandOld Westbury Gardens9/30/2007
New YorkManhattanHudson River Park9/23/2007
New YorkPotsdamSUNY Potsdam Campus - Campus Union11/3/2007
New YorkRochesterGenesee Valley Park10/13/2007
New YorkStaten IslandClove Lake Park10/14/2007
New YorkSyracuseBeaver Lake Nature Center10/7/2007
New YorkWatertownGeneral Brown High School9/9/2007
New YorkWestchester CountyCroton Point Park10/7/2007
North CarolinaCarrboroTown Commons11/4/2007
North CarolinaCharlotteFreedom Park9/15/2007
North CarolinaWinston-SalemTanglewood Park9/22/2007
North DakotaFargoIsland Park Gazebo9/30/2007
OhioCincinnatiAult Park10/14/2007
OhioCleveland Metro AreaLake Metropark Farmpark in Kirtland10/20/2007
OhioColumbusFred Beekman Park9/9/2007
OhioGreenvilleGreenville City Park9/22/2007
OhioLimaThe Rotary Riverwalk10/13/2007
OhioPiquaEdison Community College9/29/2007
OhioToledoUniversity of Toledo - University Trail9/29/2007
OhioWood CountyDowntown Bowling Green10/7/2007
OregonPortlandWorld Trade Center Portland10/20/2007
PennsylvaniaAllentownLehigh Parkway10/14/2007
PennsylvaniaBrodheadsville/PoconosChestnut Hill Township Park8/25/2007
PennsylvaniaHarrisburgCity Island & Riverfront Park9/29/2007
PennsylvaniaLancasterMillersville University Track10/20/2007
PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Museum of Art10/7/2007
PennsylvaniaPittsburghMcCandless Pavilion-North Park9/22/2007
PennsylvaniaWilkes-BarreKirby Park9/16/2007
Rhode IslandProvidenceWaterplace Park9/30/2007
South CarolinaCharlestonHampton Park, downtown Charleston11/4/2007
South CarolinaColumbiaRiverfront Park10/21/2007
TennesseeMemphisMemphis Botanic Garden10/20/2007
TexasAmarilloMedical Center Park9/22/2007
TexasAustinCapitol Grounds9/23/2007
TexasBrownsvilleLincoln Park10/13/2007
TexasDallas/Fort WorthOak Point Park, Plano10/13/2007
TexasFlower MoundParker Square11/3/2007
TexasHoustonStude Park / White Oak Hike & Bike Trail11/3/2007
TexasWichita FallsLucy Park10/13/2007
UtahProvoProvo Canyon's Parkway Trail10/6/2007
VermontBrattleboroBrattleboro Masonic Center10/13/2007
VermontBurlingtonBattery Park10/6/2007
VirginiaFairfax StationBurke Lake10/13/2007
VirginiaRestonReston Town Center10/7/2007
VirginiaVirginia BeachMount Trashmore Park10/6/2007
VirginiaWinchesterWinchester Moose Lodge9/29/2007
WashingtonSeattleSeattle Waterfront10/27/2007
WisconsinBurlingtonMGA Research Corp.11/3/2007
WisconsinFond du LacMarian College10/19/2007
WisconsinMadisonVilas Park9/30/2007