On September 12th, Suicide Prevention Services of America (SPS) will be hosting it’s annual HERE FOR LIFE! Walk.
This walk is an amazing awareness event. For those who have lost someone to suicide. For people who suffer from depression and maybe had an attempt or contemplated suicide. For people who simply support the cause and want to help erase the stigma. TOGETHER, WE WALK.
We walk 3.2 miles. Beginning at the large Pavillion in Potawatomie Park in St. Charles and walking along the Fox River.
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The walk begins with a balloon launch to memorialize our loved ones. Each loved one’s name is read out loud. It’s touching. Each year, I write my Grandma’s name on a balloon and release it after her name is said.
After, we begin our walk. We make friends along the way. It’s scenic and lovely along the river.
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Here is a video about the walk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAmPZpYixW4
The sidewalks have words of encouragement: Keep going. You can do it. HERE FOR LIFE. Each mile is marked with a Mile Marker. Mile Markers often have pictures of loved ones. My Grandma has a mile marker each year.
The walk ends with food. We celebrate life.
My Grandma’s picture is on our family shirts again this year.
All donations go to SPS, a non-profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible.
It’s our largest yearly SPS event. We count on the fundraising and donations from this event to keep SPS alive and offering services. My mom founded SPS. It was first the Crisis Line of the Fox Valley. It evolved to become Suicide Prevention Services on May 29th, 1998.
SPS is one of seven agencies in the nation that offer all of the services that it provides: training, counseling, a telephone hotline, depression screening, support groups for both attempters and for survivors (people who have lost someone they loved to suicide) and more.
The dedication of the employees and volunteers is amazing.
WALK WITH US. There is still time to register to walk: http://www.firstgiving.com/spsamerica/HereforLifeWalk2015
Click the GREEN Register Now button to sign up.
Rain or shine, we’ll be walking. Remembering. And doing our best to raise money to prevent suicide.
www.spsamerica.org www.facebook.com/suicidepreventionservices www.twitter.com/spsfv www.youtube.com/spsfvillinois
