Over 300 people gather in Wilmington for the Out of the Darkness march

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – The 12th “Out of the Darkness” community walk gathered more than 300 people in downtown Wilmington on Saturday to remember friends and family who have lost their lives to suicide and to raise money for mental health initiatives.

The walk was part of a series of walks around the country organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. It began in the Episcopal parish of St. Jakub, where the event organizers made a short presentation before the walk began. He walked along Market Street before the walkers turned onto 5th Avenue, then onto Dock Street and finally back onto 3rd Street.

“We are all united by the thread of personal suffering, the suffering of a family member or the loss of someone to suicide,” said Mandy Anderson-ille, co-chair of the march. “It’s a day where we can remember them and come out and support each other.”

Anderson-ille, like many other participants, lost friends and mentors to suicide. Now he’s trying to help others by getting involved in the walk, which has raised more than $22,000 as of Sunday. She said the money will go toward mental health support training and bereavement networking throughout North Carolina.

Mental health and counseling agencies were also on site Sunday afternoon. Participants also helped create a commemorative thread of ribbons to pay tribute to the fallen.

Anderson-ille said this is an event that helps bring attention to an issue that needs attention.

“Sometimes it’s very difficult to talk about it. Suicide is a preventable death. And again, that sense of community, that sense of belonging – we just work really hard at that sense of community,” Anderson-ille said.

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