Suicide prevention fundraiser walk
I cannot believe that it was my 5th year involved in the walk at the zoo for the suicide prevention walk. I am not sure how they ended up, financially, with this event (earlier in the week funds were lower than expected) but this was - by far - the best walk event they ever had. And I thought the others were awesome!
When I say "involved" in the walk - I physically helped out (the last 3 years) with the event. Prior to that I was the parent liaison at my sons' high school and, for the contest between schools in the area, we placed 2nd the first and 1st place the second year for raising the most funds. I became involved back then because of my middle son. He had had a major depression episode that landed him in the hospital when he was a junior in high school but had appeared to suffer from it on an off since his freshman year. It was his brother and girlfriend's mom that had alerted us the few times he needed an intervention in high school. This is why I do what I do. This organization educates students in over 100 schools in our area about what to do if a friend tells them of suicidal ideations. Friends are the first line of defense.
The "walk" starts out with speakers, choir, (this year video too) in a huge pavilion and then a short walk (at night) through the zoo. Signs with luminaries are posted throughout the walk with statistics. At the end of the walk (walking toward the pavilion) paper bag luminaries are lit with names of people who've suffered or were lost to suicide, following that the choir (with battery operated candles are singing) as you continue to walk back. It was extremely moving and well done. All after dark so it's really powerful.
The speaker this year was the best!!! He gave his story about his younger brother and how he suffered. I was pretty much aware of this story but his delivery was special and overwhelmingly moving. I met his mom at the fundraising golf outing and she had concerns about what I shared with her about J. She already had him diagnosed with BP and that was before he had had his episode this past summer.
Coincidentally, their family dynamic/story is eerily similar except about the suicide. Her son, the one who spoke, is the oldest of 3 sons. I have 3 sons. His middle brother (the one who committed suicide) was 22 (J is 22 and the middle one). His brother was diagnosed with BP and had gotten into trouble with the law for breaking and entering (maybe stealing). My son had a charge similar but was a minor and didn't go to jail or have a felony. The son who gave the talk suffered from depression himself at times (my oldest too). There were other things he said that resinated with my husband and I. It was very emotional. But I cannot imagine (and never want to) what the dozens of families who were there who've lost loved ones went through or how they were feeling that weekend. There were also other people (students from area schools) who were there raising the funds for this cause. It was packed. Maybe 1000 people?
What also resinated with my hubby and me was the things this man (I learned he's 37 but he looked like he was 27) said about the stigma and urging people to get more educated about mental illness. We talk about the same thing in our program (almost word for word from what he said) only about addiction. And we know, of course, that mental illness and addiction can go hand in hand - (and he mentioned that too).
We have our program coming up this Thursday ~ so I must get on the ball and practice because we made a lot of changes yesterday! yikes!
P.S. - I met T-Man's old drug counselor at the event last night! He came up to me and it was a surprise. I actually told him about this walk event, when T had him as a counselor, and actually went to it then. Haven't seen him in two years and it was great to tell him that T is doing better (not perfect) but better. It was weird seeing him because it was like a blast from the past - that I really don't want to remember. Every now and then (aside from from our program) I am reminded about those awful days. Heard a song on the radio today, in fact, that he liked to listen to back then. Fortunately, I like(d) the song........
When I say "involved" in the walk - I physically helped out (the last 3 years) with the event. Prior to that I was the parent liaison at my sons' high school and, for the contest between schools in the area, we placed 2nd the first and 1st place the second year for raising the most funds. I became involved back then because of my middle son. He had had a major depression episode that landed him in the hospital when he was a junior in high school but had appeared to suffer from it on an off since his freshman year. It was his brother and girlfriend's mom that had alerted us the few times he needed an intervention in high school. This is why I do what I do. This organization educates students in over 100 schools in our area about what to do if a friend tells them of suicidal ideations. Friends are the first line of defense.
The "walk" starts out with speakers, choir, (this year video too) in a huge pavilion and then a short walk (at night) through the zoo. Signs with luminaries are posted throughout the walk with statistics. At the end of the walk (walking toward the pavilion) paper bag luminaries are lit with names of people who've suffered or were lost to suicide, following that the choir (with battery operated candles are singing) as you continue to walk back. It was extremely moving and well done. All after dark so it's really powerful.
The speaker this year was the best!!! He gave his story about his younger brother and how he suffered. I was pretty much aware of this story but his delivery was special and overwhelmingly moving. I met his mom at the fundraising golf outing and she had concerns about what I shared with her about J. She already had him diagnosed with BP and that was before he had had his episode this past summer.
Coincidentally, their family dynamic/story is eerily similar except about the suicide. Her son, the one who spoke, is the oldest of 3 sons. I have 3 sons. His middle brother (the one who committed suicide) was 22 (J is 22 and the middle one). His brother was diagnosed with BP and had gotten into trouble with the law for breaking and entering (maybe stealing). My son had a charge similar but was a minor and didn't go to jail or have a felony. The son who gave the talk suffered from depression himself at times (my oldest too). There were other things he said that resinated with my husband and I. It was very emotional. But I cannot imagine (and never want to) what the dozens of families who were there who've lost loved ones went through or how they were feeling that weekend. There were also other people (students from area schools) who were there raising the funds for this cause. It was packed. Maybe 1000 people?
What also resinated with my hubby and me was the things this man (I learned he's 37 but he looked like he was 27) said about the stigma and urging people to get more educated about mental illness. We talk about the same thing in our program (almost word for word from what he said) only about addiction. And we know, of course, that mental illness and addiction can go hand in hand - (and he mentioned that too).
We have our program coming up this Thursday ~ so I must get on the ball and practice because we made a lot of changes yesterday! yikes!
P.S. - I met T-Man's old drug counselor at the event last night! He came up to me and it was a surprise. I actually told him about this walk event, when T had him as a counselor, and actually went to it then. Haven't seen him in two years and it was great to tell him that T is doing better (not perfect) but better. It was weird seeing him because it was like a blast from the past - that I really don't want to remember. Every now and then (aside from from our program) I am reminded about those awful days. Heard a song on the radio today, in fact, that he liked to listen to back then. Fortunately, I like(d) the song........
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