It’s here. This afternoon I’ll be leaving for New York City, and on Saturday I’ll be joining Team Chenango on an important journey: the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Overnight, an 18-mile dusk ‘til dawn walk to raise awareness for depression and help prevent suicide.
It’s going to be an emotional night, I know, because we’ll be walking in memory of the loved ones and friends we’ve lost to suicide and in honor of all those they left behind. We walk, too, to prevent suicide, to save others the heartache we have endured and to help people who struggle with depression and other mental illnesses receive the treatment they need.
It is a cause that is important to my teammates and I, because suicide has touched each of our lives in different ways. For the same reason, it is an important cause for many in our community. So many have offered us their support, through their participation in our May 1 golf tournament at Blue Stone, through donations and through their kind words and thoughts. We will walk with each of them, and the loved ones they’ve lost to suicide, in our hearts.
Through the generosity of our family, friends and this amazing community, we have far exceeded our initial fundraising goal. We set out to raise $10,000. As of yesterday, we had raised over $17,000.
Our team numbers have grown as well. Initially, we had nine walkers. Saturday, there will be 14 people proudly wearing Team Chenango shirts. Our team consists of myself, Maggie Dorsey, David Emerson, Brian Meade, Teresa Hollister, Jessica Ryan, Kelly Ryan, Sandy Ryan, Steven Dykeman, Michelle Hamlett, Kim Begeal, Rhiannon Begeal, Caitlyn Wilcox and last but certainly not least, Danielle Marshman Williamson.
Danielle is our team captain and the driving force behind our efforts to raise money for suicide prevention and awareness. She walks in memory of her dad, Dan Marshman, who took his own life 10 years ago.
Danielle’s ability to take such a tragedy and turn it into a positive force to help others is awe inspiring. She is an inspiration to me, and I feel privileged and honored to be walking alongside her and the rest of Team Chenango in New York this weekend.
We’ve each spent the last few months gearing up for the walk and raising money. And on Saturday, all of our efforts will come together. We’ll join some 2,000 other walkers in our trek, raising awareness for depression and helping to prevent suicide with every step.
