San Francisco’s
”
Out of the Darkness Overnight
”
walk racked up $1.7 million for prevention research
Morgan Hill – Suicide is a fearful and frightening subject.
For many, it’s a “taboo” that’s often swept under the rug rather than dealt with head on.
And for those left coping with a loved one’s suicide, the task is often made more difficult by the social stigma that’s left behind.
Such was the case for Amy McGeever, 19, whose brother Willie took his life in April of 2003 when he was the same age.
He suffered from a bi-polar disorder. As a sophomore at Live Oak High School, many of Amy’s peers could not begin to comprehend her loss.
She said they talked behind her back and felt awkward in her presence. No one knew what to say to her.
But this wasn’t the case two weeks ago, when Amy and her friend Lizzy Ritti joined 1,100 people walking through the streets of San Francisco during the city’s first “Out of the Darkness Overnight” walk on July 22-23.
Sponsored by the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the 20-mile fundraising walk lasted from dusk to dawn and raised more than $1.7 million for suicide prevention research.
Amy and Lizzy raised more $6,000 with the help of friends and family who pledged money.
“This was my proudest accomplishment,” said Amy, a sophomore at UC Santa Cruz.
She said the event had a powerful therapeutic effect on everyone who was present. “I think it made everyone feel like less of a freak. We’re all in this club that we don’t want to be in.”
An important goal of the “Overnight” walk was to raise awareness of a serious national health problem. According to AFSP, it is estimated that close to one million people make a suicide attempt each year and every 18 minutes someone dies by suicide. It is the third leading cause of death among teenagers and young adults and the second leading cause of death for college students.
In Morgan Hill, police say there have been seven suicides in the last five years.
“People don’t do much to prevent it,” said Evelyn McGeever, Amy’s mom. “It’s an illness. That’s why it’s important to research the cause.”
It was an emotional night for Amy and Lizzy. The crowd largely consisted of people directly touched by suicide. The walkers wore beaded necklaces of different colors to indicate whether they had lost a friend, family member or spouse.
“It was really nice to be around a huge group of people who have gone through the same thing that you have,” said Lizzy, a 19-year-old sophomore at San Francisco State. “If you got upset, everyone understood why you were upset.”
Evelyn, who was at the fundraiser to support her daughter’s efforts, said she plans to walk next year.
“My daughter and I held hands,” she said. “It was so healing for all of us.”
Tony Burchyns covers Morgan Hill for The Times. Reach him at (408) 779-4106 ext. 201 or tb*******@mo*************.com.
