Some tears were shed but even more hugs were exchanged by friends and families gathered at Princeton City Park Saturday to raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention.

Approximately 150 people came out to take part in the 3rd Annual “Out of the Darkness” Community Walk at the park. Heather Bennett, chairperson of the walk, said the funds raised through the event will go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) for research, support groups and suicide prevention and awareness education in West Virginia.

“We have had tremendous growth in participation this year from people impacted by suicide,” Bennett said. “We have 25 people on our list of memorial names. This walk started very small three years ago and our fund-raising goal for this year was only $3,000 because of that. This year, we have raised $11,000. We don’t have an AFSP chapter in Mercer County yet. We have to show foundation there is enough interest first.”

Bennett said groups were encouraged to walk three to five miles around the park to raise awareness.

“West Virginia ranks seventh in over-all recorded suicide rates in the country,” she said. “Mercer County ranks number two in suicide rates out of all 55 counties in the state. Our main goal is to get the community together and show people in need of support that there are people in the community who care. This year we have had a huge response from the schools and student groups involved in anti-bullying causes as well. We hate that anyone can relate to this issue, but the awareness a lot of the young people have brought to this issue is very important.”

Brenda Hammond and Jessica Simon, both of Bluefield, came out to walk in memory of Jessica Hammond, Brenda’s daughter and Simon’s best friend.

“My daughter Jessie is the reason why I am here,” Brenda Hammond said. “It will be a year on Oct. 4 since her death. She was my middle child. She was 24, but she was still my baby. Now, God carries me through each day.”

Hammond said awareness is essential to preventing suicide.

“My daughter was bipolar and suffered from schizophrenia,” Hammond said. “There has to be awareness for these kids about what bullying and mental illness can do. We are losing too many people to suicide.”

Simon said it has been hard to lose her best friend.

“It took someone in our lives to make us see it,” Simon said. “Awareness is so very important. We need to find ways other than medicine to treat these illnesses. People need to care about this without having experienced it themselves. A lot of people only get involved because they lose someone, and no one should have to lose someone like this.”

Chelsea Hollifield of Athens and Kat Kammer of Bluefield came with the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority from Concord University to walk in honor of Jocelyn Desmond.

“I think it is very important that people are aware that suicide is a big problem and shouldn’t be overlooked,” Kammer said. “Hundreds of thousands of kids try to kill themselves every day because they are hurting. One of those people was my good friend Jocelyn. I’m surprised that there are so many people from the community who are out here in support of this, and I think it is awesome that so many people have come.”

Hollifield said she came to the walk to support many of her friends who knew Jocelyn.

“People need to know this happens,” Hollifield said. “Kids are under a lot of stress, and they need to know they aren’t alone. I’m surprised at how many people are here, but I’m very glad to see so many people here.

Jessica Broles of Bluefield, Va., came to walk in memory of her nephew.

“He took his life at 19,” Broles said. “I am walking to help shed the stigma of suicide and prevent this. He was our family’s first grandson, my sister’s first child and my first nephew, my first time being an aunt.”

Concord students Xavier Stewart of Beckley and Victor Parra of Montgomery came to Princeton for the walk as a way to honor friends. Stewart said many people don’t realize the signs of someone contemplating suicide.

“Some of my friends attempted suicide, which is why I always try to go out of my way to say hi to people, to ask them how they are doing, to befriend them and help them out,” Stewart said. “You never know what someone is going through or how much something you say can impact them. It is good to bring awareness to this issue. We just want people to know they aren’t alone.”

Parra said he experienced losing friends to suicide firsthand in high school.

“I have lost people to suicide in high school, and it brings the issue closer to your reality,” Parra said. “I realize how important it is to take a stand. I feel I owe it to my friends. People don’t realize that this person could have been your brother, your sister, your loved one. I don’t want anyone else to lose anyone this way. The community needs to learn to love and care for each other. People need to know there is hope.”

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