Charles Lockett: Combatting suicide by walking out of darkness
On Sept. 19 we will hold our annual 5K Out of the Darkness Walk, a program designed to educate and help prevent the national scourge we call suicide.
Many of us have been touched by suicide in one way or another. It’s the 10th-leading cause of death in the United States, with over 100 every day. It may affect your sister, your brother, one of your parents or one of your children.
Nothing is so devastating to a parent as losing a child. And to lose one who has taken their own life, with no chance to say goodbye is worse than anything.
Every day, 22 veterans take their own lives. That’s almost one per hour. Another 80 who are not veterans but are sons, daughters, brothers and sisters also take their own lives.
Join our walk and help us prevent this. Help us teach about the warning signs and help us save our children by showing them other ways to cope.
Join us at Graceda Park on the 19th of September, it won’t cost you anything but a 5K walk and you might help save a child, maybe your own.
Charles Lockett, Modesto
This story was originally published August 28, 2015 at 11:21 AM with the headline "Charles Lockett: Combatting suicide by walking out of darkness."