The Greater Chicago/Illinois chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) will host the Western Suburbs Out of the Darkness Community Walk on October 17th at beautiful Walton Island in Elgin. Funds raised through the scenic, 3.1-mile walk will be used to support research, education, and survivor and awareness programs with the goal of both preventing suicide and assisting those affected by it.

Each year, more than 30,000 people in the United States die by suicide. Every day, approximately 80 Americans take their own life, and 1,500 more attempt to do so. With each of these tragedies, many people – the “Survivors of Suicide” – are profoundly affected and their lives are changed. With suicide the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. among adults ages 18 to 65, the AFSP seeks to understand and prevent suicide through research and education as well as to reach out to people with mood disorders and those impacted by suicide.

Walton Island is located in the middle of the Fox River, just west of The Centre and Hemmens Auditorium. A parking lot resides just north of the island, and a parking deck can be found just east of the island. Parking in the area is free, and Walton Island is within walking distance of the Metra.

Show your support for suicide survivors and for all those who need AFSP's help. Join us for this uplifting community event, or if you can't make it to the walk, please consider making a tax-deductible donation.

For more information on the foundation's initiatives, visit http://afsp.org.

• Location: Elgin
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