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The Out of the Darkness Community and Overnight walks benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) by raising awareness on suicide and depression, raising money for research and education to prevent suicide from taking place, and providing assistance and a safe outlet for survivors of suicide. There are more than 30,000 suicide deaths in the United States each year. Ninety percent of those who die by suicide could have benefited from mental assistance. Someone in the U.S. dies by suicide every 16 minutes. Over $850K has been raised to date for the cause of suicide prevention and education by the AFSP through the Out of the Darkness program. The Community Walks are typically 5k (3.10 miles).
In addition to the Community Walks, there is also an Overnight Walk, which is held in one host city each year after a number of years being in multiple locations. In 2008, the walks were held in Seattle and New York, starting at 8pm and beginning to close at 5am. The Overnight, as it is called, is 20 miles.
There were 105 communities around the United States hosting Community Walks in 2007.
List of 2007 Community Walks:
| Alabama | Birmingham | Heardmont Park | 9/29/2007 |
| California | Los Angeles | Santa Monica Third Street Promenade | 10/7/2007 |
| San Diego | NTC Promenade in Liberty Station-Point Loma | 9/15/2007 | |
| San Francisco | Crissy Field | 9/29/2007 | |
| Yreka | Wal-Mart Parking Lot | 9/8/2007 | |
| Colorado | Denver | Sloan's Lake Park | 10/21/2007 |
| Connecticut | Fairfield/Westport | Sherwood Island State Park | 9/30/2007 |
| West Hartford | MDC Reservoir | 10/14/2007 | |
| Delaware | Dover | Silver Lake | 10/20/2007 |
| District of Columbia | Washington | C & O Canal | 9/22/2007 |
| Florida | Boca Raton | Patch Reef Park | 10/14/2007 |
| Jacksonville | Jacksonville Beach | 10/27/2007 | |
| Miami | Tropical Park | 10/27/2007 | |
| Sarasota | Siesta Key Beach | 10/28/2007 | |
| Tampa Bay Area | Clearwater Beach | 11/17/2007 | |
| Georgia | Atlanta | Piedmont Park | 10/28/2007 |
| Warner Robins | Cohen Walker Drive | 10/14/2007 | |
| Winder/Barrow County | Fort Yargo State Park | 9/1/2007 | |
| Illinois | Bloomington/Normal | Colene Hoose School | 10/20/2007 |
| Chicago | Busse Woods | 9/29/2007 | |
| Indiana | Benton County | Fowler Town Park | 9/16/2007 |
| Indianapolis | Indianapolis Downtown Canal | 9/22/2007 | |
| Iowa | Des Moines | Gray's Lake | 9/23/2007 |
| Mason City | Southbridge Mall | 10/6/2007 | |
| Kentucky | Argillite | Greenbo State Park | 10/20/2007 |
| Louisville | Seneca Park | 11/3/2007 | |
| Louisiana | Lafayette | Downtown Lafayette | 9/15/2007 |
| Maine | Bangor | Hayford Park | 9/30/2007 |
| Houlton | Historic Downtown Houlton | 9/22/2007 | |
| Portland | Baxter Boulevard Back Cove Trail | 9/9/2007 | |
| Maryland | Baltimore (SPEAK/AFSP) | Baltimore & Annapolis Trail | 10/13/2007 |
| Brunswick | C & O Canal National Historical Park | 10/20/2007 | |
| Montgomery County (SPEAK/AFSP) | Great Falls Carderock | 10/6/2007 | |
| Massachusetts | Boston/Brighton | Artensani Park | 10/13/2007 |
| Springfield | Jewish Community Center | 10/7/2007 | |
| Michigan | Ann Arbor | Pioneer High School | 9/16/2007 |
| Grand Rapids | Millennium Park | 10/6/2007 | |
| Kalamazoo/Battle Creek | Fell Park | 10/13/2007 | |
| Lansing | Potters Park | 9/15/2007 | |
| Metro Detroit/Macomb County | Metro Beach Park | 9/30/2007 | |
| Metro Detroit/Oakland County | Metro Beach Park | 9/30/2007 | |
| Metro Detroit/Oakland County | Kensington Park | 10/7/2007 | |
| Minnesota | St. Paul | Como Park | 9/16/2007 |
| Missouri | Kansas City | Shawnee Mission Park in Shawnee, Kansas | 9/30/2007 |
| St. Louis | Forest Park | 11/4/2007 | |
| Montana | Billings | Veterans Park | 10/7/2007 |
| Kalispell | Depot Park | 9/29/2007 | |
| Nebraska | Omaha | Miller's Landing Park/Riverwalk Trail | 9/16/2007 |
| Nevada | Las Vegas | Lorenzi Park | 11/10/2007 |
| New Hampshire | Hanover/Lebanon | Dartmouth College | 11/4/2007 |
| Portsmouth | Prescott Park | 9/29/2007 | |
| New Jersey | Atlantic County | Oscar E. McClinton Waterfront Park | 8/18/2007 |
| Bridgewater | Duke Island Park | 7/29/2007 | |
| New Brunswick | Buccleuch Park | 10/14/2007 | |
| New York | Buffalo | South Park | 9/30/2007 |
| Capital Region (Walk for Rita) | Saratoga Race Course | 9/16/2007 | |
| Catskill | Catskill Elks Club | 10/7/2007 | |
| Fredonia | SUNY Fredonia Campus | 10/6/2007 | |
| Long Island | Old Westbury Gardens | 9/30/2007 | |
| Manhattan | Hudson River Park | 9/23/2007 | |
| Potsdam | SUNY Potsdam Campus - Campus Union | 11/3/2007 | |
| Rochester | Genesee Valley Park | 10/13/2007 | |
| Staten Island | Clove Lake Park | 10/14/2007 | |
| Syracuse | Beaver Lake Nature Center | 10/7/2007 | |
| Watertown | General Brown High School | 9/9/2007 | |
| Westchester County | Croton Point Park | 10/7/2007 | |
| North Carolina | Carrboro | Town Commons | 11/4/2007 |
| Charlotte | Freedom Park | 9/15/2007 | |
| Winston-Salem | Tanglewood Park | 9/22/2007 | |
| North Dakota | Fargo | Island Park Gazebo | 9/30/2007 |
| Ohio | Cincinnati | Ault Park | 10/14/2007 |
| Cleveland Metro Area | Lake Metropark Farmpark in Kirtland | 10/20/2007 | |
| Columbus | Fred Beekman Park | 9/9/2007 | |
| Greenville | Greenville City Park | 9/22/2007 | |
| Lima | The Rotary Riverwalk | 10/13/2007 | |
| Piqua | Edison Community College | 9/29/2007 | |
| Toledo | University of Toledo - University Trail | 9/29/2007 | |
| Wood County | Downtown Bowling Green | 10/7/2007 | |
| Oregon | Portland | World Trade Center Portland | 10/20/2007 |
| Pennsylvania | Allentown | Lehigh Parkway | 10/14/2007 |
| Brodheadsville/Poconos | Chestnut Hill Township Park | 8/25/2007 | |
| Harrisburg | City Island & Riverfront Park | 9/29/2007 | |
| Lancaster | Millersville University Track | 10/20/2007 | |
| Philadelphia | Philadelphia Museum of Art | 10/7/2007 | |
| Pittsburgh | McCandless Pavilion-North Park | 9/22/2007 | |
| Wilkes-Barre | Kirby Park | 9/16/2007 | |
| Rhode Island | Providence | Waterplace Park | 9/30/2007 |
| South Carolina | Charleston | Hampton Park, downtown Charleston | 11/4/2007 |
| Columbia | Riverfront Park | 10/21/2007 | |
| Tennessee | Memphis | Memphis Botanic Garden | 10/20/2007 |
| Texas | Amarillo | Medical Center Park | 9/22/2007 |
| Austin | Capitol Grounds | 9/23/2007 | |
| Brownsville | Lincoln Park | 10/13/2007 | |
| Dallas/Fort Worth | Oak Point Park, Plano | 10/13/2007 | |
| Flower Mound | Parker Square | 11/3/2007 | |
| Houston | Stude Park / White Oak Hike & Bike Trail | 11/3/2007 | |
| Wichita Falls | Lucy Park | 10/13/2007 | |
| Utah | Provo | Provo Canyon's Parkway Trail | 10/6/2007 |
| Vermont | Brattleboro | Brattleboro Masonic Center | 10/13/2007 |
| Burlington | Battery Park | 10/6/2007 | |
| Virginia | Fairfax Station | Burke Lake | 10/13/2007 |
| Reston | Reston Town Center | 10/7/2007 | |
| Virginia Beach | Mount Trashmore Park | 10/6/2007 | |
| Winchester | Winchester Moose Lodge | 9/29/2007 | |
| Washington | Seattle | Seattle Waterfront | 10/27/2007 |
| Wisconsin | Burlington | MGA Research Corp. | 11/3/2007 |
| Fond du Lac | Marian College | 10/19/2007 | |
| Madison | Vilas Park | 9/30/2007 |
In popular culture
US drama series Sorry for Your Loss produced by Facebook Watch and focussing on experiences of grief following the death from a possible suicide, centres an entire episode, "Norway" S2E5, on the AFSP Out of Darkness Walk as the central element of the episode.
References
- AFSP: Community Walks Home. Retrieved September 18, 2007.
- AFSP: Overnight Home. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- M, Smita (October 15, 2019). "'Sorry for your Loss' Season 2 Episode 5 'Norway' focusses on the grieving process as Leigh is triggered by memories of Matt". MEAWW Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. Retrieved September 17, 2022.