The fundraising walk supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) by helping support local suicide prevention and awareness programs right here in Chautauqua County. The goal for this year is to raise at least $10,000.

The Jamestown Out of the Darkness Walk is one of the nearly 250 Out of the Darkness Community Walks being held this fall nationwide. The walks are expected to unite more than 100,000 walkers nationally and raise more than $7.5 million for suicide prevention efforts.

The Jamestown community walk will take place at Tracy Plaza, City Hall with registration from 9 to 10 a.m. and the walk beginning around 10:05 a.m.  To register, go to www.outofthedarkness.org and go to the Jamestown walk page.

This walk is being organized by the local suicide awareness and prevention coalition within Chautauqua County called The Community Alliance for Suicide Prevention. The Alliance is made up of members from various organizations such as Chautauqua Tapestry, Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene, Compeer Chautauqua, WCA Hospital, Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. Mobile Crisis Team, Crisis Services, Hospice Chautauqua County, State University of New York at Fredonia, The Resource Center, New York State Office of Mental Health, Mental Health Association, Early Identification and Recognition Program with Chautauqua County Mental Hygiene, Family Services of the Chautauqua Region, Inc., CASAC, Lutheran, Jamestown Community College, VA of WNY Health Care System and passionate community members.

More details on the Out of the Darkness Walk will be provided Thusday on WRFA when we discuss the event and the effort to raise awareness for suicide prevent during our weekly Community Matters program… which airs at 6pm here on WRFA.