More than two hundred locals gathered at Rosaryville State Park in Upper Marlboro on Oct. 17 to for the Out of the Darkness Walk. Hosted by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the 2.2-mile walk raised more than $20,000 for educational programs, support for survivors of suicide loss, along with advocacy programs for public policy.

In addition to raising funds and awareness, the walk provided a time for participants to share with others who had walked the same journey as either a survivor of loss or may have even struggled with contemplating suicide. Walk chair Alnicia Gibson shared her personal connection to the cause.

“This is the first walk for Prince George’s County and I’m super excited. The reason it is Out of the Darkness is because we want to bring it into the light. My passion for it is very transparent; I tried to commit suicide myself so I think it’s imperative that we get together for survivors of suicide and all those who have lost someone to suicide so we don’t feel like we’re alone. It’s important to me; I want this to be a fellowship – have people exchange phone numbers come out and just support one another,” Gibson said.

“It is my hope to fund more research and education and provide more programs to those who have lost someone to suicide. I want to break down the stigma associated with suicide and mental illness,” Gibson shared.

Walk co-chair, Linda Diaz, lost her daughter in 2013 and has worked with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to further promote awareness for programs. Having worked with many walks with the organization, Diaz noted that Prince George’s County didn’t have a walk and was determined to bring one to the county.

“I lost my daughter two and a half years ago to suicide and she was born and raised and died in Prince George’s County. She was only 15 years old — she died 3 weeks after her 15th birthday. That is when I started volunteering as an advocate with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. I’ve advocated in our sister counties – Anne Arundel, Montgomery County, Howard County — but we had nothing in Prince George’s County. At the same time I was doing that there were a lot of my daughter’s friends that were suffering – multiple suicide attempts, severe depression – and I could not get assistance in Prince Georges County,” Diaz noted.

“I started to work with a few of the delegates; hence the reason why there is a law in my daughter’s name called Lauryn’s Law. I actually brought ASP in with me so we could get as much sponsorship as we could in the delegate houses in Maryland and it worked. We were able to get the law passed on May 12; the governor signed it into law. The law now requires that school counselors in Prince George’s County be required to be certified in mental health and the underlying basis of suicide prevention, as well as, it is now required that they take continuing education credits,” Diaz said.

Maryland Area Director Serena Schreiber noted, “Yes it is a way to raise funds for programs but it’s more than that. It provides a day for people that have been through similar experiences to all come together as a community for hope and united against the same purpose which is preventing suicide.”

Guest speakers included Susan Rosenstock, advocate and founder of UMTTR.org, whose mission is to change the story from bullying, depression and suicide to a compassionate culture; Magdaline Halous DeSousa, author and advocate; and India Sweetney, public policy advocate. WNBC 4’s Chuck Bell, Meteorologist with News4 Storm Team4 emceed the event.