All-night suicide prevention fundraiser to begin

By Erica Holt, Bay City News Service

July 22, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - Fundraisers for the first time today are descending on San Francisco to walk all night in the Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk, sponsored by the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention.

The 20-mile walk begins at 8 p.m. today and ends at 6 a.m. Sunday at the Presidio's Crissy Field. The all-night trekkers form teams and are each responsible for raising at least $1,000 to benefit suicide prevention research, education and survivor support, according to the foundation.

In 2005, more than 1,700 people raised over $1.35 million in Chicago, which will hold its second walk August 12. The first event was in 2002 in Washington, D.C. and raised $1.2 million.

Caltrain reports that it is sponsoring a three-member team, including a train conductor, a transit police officer and a locomotive engineer, who had combined raised nearly $7,500 as of Friday. According to Caltrain, employees were encouraged to participate to raise awareness about suicide prevention in the wake of "incidence of suicide on Caltrain tracks.''

According to the suicide foundation, untreated depression is the leading cause of suicide. Part of the funds raised will go to creating a regional office in San Francisco, as well as research to improve knowledge of medical factors that contribute to suicide.

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