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Mom, I am devastated that you never met my son. You would be so very proud. His ultrasound picture rests with you for eternity. I love and miss you so much. Debra Ann Mose 1956-2008

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We walk for Farrokh. Our husband, father, and friend who fought against treatment resistant depression for years. We walk to honor and keep alive his larger-than-life energy. His intelligent wit. His boundless generosity. We walk for everyone who wakes up, again, to the ache of missing someone who has died by suicide. And we walk for those who have attempted suicide and continue to struggle with their mental health. None of us are alone.

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I walk to honor the memory of my brother in law, Jimmy, and to support friends and family members that have struggled or attempted. I walk to remind myself to educate youth that there are resources and people to go to when faced with feelings too difficult to deal with themselves. I walk to remember all those that have struggled and to all those we may help in the future.

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I walk for my daughter Emma Clark, who struggled with depression after a serious concussion during a softball game and died by suicide  7 years ago, and all those who are struggling now in their fight to stay alive. 

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I walk for my daughter Emma Clark, who struggled with depression after a serious concussion during a softball game and died by suicide  7 years ago, and all those who are struggling now in their fight to stay alive. 

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This is our fourth year walking. We walk for all those that feel alone in their deepest moments of despair.  For all those who cry in the darkness because no one will understand their pain.  Those that feel they are not worthy or loved.  We walk for all those that have been bullied and rejected because they are different.  We walk for those who cannot walk for themselves!

Know you are loved and are never alone.

God Bless and keep living because it is YOU that is needed in the world!

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I walk first and foremost for my partner, Austin. I lost him first to a traumatic brain injury in 2017 and then to suicide in 2019.
I walk for those who have thought life wasn't worth living anymore, and thankfully found a light in the darkness.
I walk for the Wendt Center and all the good work they do to support trauma survivors.
I walk for all the incredible people in my survivors' group. Ladies, you are amazing...you're the best partners in grief anyone could ask for.
I walk for myself...I have never been so low that I felt life wasn't worth living, but I've known enough pain to want to hide under a rock and let the world go on around me. I cannot imagine what the pain must be like to want to stay under that rock forever.
And I walk to erase the shame and stigma we attach to mental health, trauma, and suicide.

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Nic's Legacy
We walk to honor my nephew Nic,  whom lost his battle to the darkness at the age of 16. I walk for him, others that have lost their battle,  and for those that choose to get up each day and fight the hard fight.  We stand with you.  We will be your voice💜💛

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My beautiful son Thomas, struggled with untreated ADHD, PTSD, Depression and anxiety all of his adult life. On October 9, 2017, he put and end to his pain. I was overwhelmed with grief into a friend introduced my to the AFSP and OOTD walks. My first walk was a year following my son's passing in DC. I felt I had a purpose to carry on my son's legacy to help others who struggle with mental health conditions and loss of their loved ones as a result. Let it be that no child die in vain. For my son, and all that suffer with mental health conditions and grieve the loss of their loved ones, I pray for you to keep walking with your head up.

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I walk in memory of my best friend, Charlene, whom I lost to suicide in 2004.
I remember you always <3

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I lost a family friend to suicide many years ago. She was very close to us, even coming to my son's birthday party. I wish she would have told us so we could have stopped her.

We are all fighting our personal battles. Thank you to everyone who has been there during mine, which I have been battling for most of my life off and on. I walk because I want to bring hope to others as it saved my own life.

I walk because I want to raise awareness and remove the stigma. I walk because many people with Borderline Personality Disorder suffer with recurring thoughts of suicide when life is extra tough. I walk so that there will be more resources to help people resist suicidal thoughts.

But most of all I walk because I want to live to grow old, and meet my son's future family. ❤

This is my luminary. To remind everyone as well as myself to keep on going.

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I walk for my brother, Lance, who died by suicide 4 years ago.  In his darkest moments, I wish that he had known about AFSP and the supports that were available to him during those times.

AFSP's programs have helped numerous families and individuals who have struggled with suicidal thoughts and who have lost someone to suicide.  When we struggle for words and actions as to help loved ones, AFSP offers answers.

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Why I Walk

I walk for my son who struggles with suicide and has attempted suicide
I walk for awareness

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In 2010, I lost my dear friend Roma to suicide. In an effort to make sense of this loss and pursue a positive outlet for my grief, I became a volunteer and advocate for suicide prevention. I've been walking every year since his passing in his loving memory, and in honor of all those who struggle with mental health conditions and thoughts of suicide.

I  met my husband through AFSP, and together our experiences with the National Capital Area Chapter have brought immeasurable hope and meaning to our lives. We have seen what wonderful things can happen when a community comes together, and are so thankful for every person who supports this cause. AFSP NCAC is doing great work to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide, and we are glad to be a part of it! -Ali W.

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I became interested in suicide prevention after volunteering for a crisis hotline. In so many of my conversations, I spoke with individuals who were struggling with anxiety and depression, and were having thoughts of suicide.

Once I moved to DC, I knew that I wanted to get more involved in suicide prevention specifically. I found AFSP and it has been an incredible place to volunteer since. I walk for everyone I spoke to on the phone back when I was taking crisis calls, and for everyone I have met since starting to volunteer with AFSP in 2019.  I walk for all of us who are struggling, for loss survivors, and for all the AFSP volunteers I have had the pleasure of meeting.

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I walk in memory of our loved one David.

David took his life in March of 2018. He struggled with Mental Illness and childhood issues that he wasn’t able to escape. David always wanted to walk in a OOTD Walk so I walk in
honor of him. I know he is apart of every walk that I
participate in.

I personally live with a Mental Health Illness and have countless suicide attempts. I walk for the voiceless. I walk to honor everyone that is struggling or lost a loved one.
You are NEVER alone

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I found AFSP NCAC when I was searching for resources to help support my friend when we was struggling. I found so much information that I was able to implement right away, and I was relieved.

My ex-husband struggled with mental health issues. It was heart-breaking to live through. We need a culture that is more open and unafraid to discuss these struggles that we ALL experience, whether ourselves, or through a friend or family member.

My hope is that by walking and contributing here, we start to make small cracks that turn into giant holes in the walls that separate us from each other. One conversation can make a difference. Showing up helps. No one has to do this alone.

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AFSP East Central Division Honors World Suicide Prevention Day

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AFSP East Central Division Honors World Suicide Prevention Day

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Lights of Hope: World Suicide Prevention Day Candle Lighting  2020

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I walk in memory my my friend Toni who died by suicide at 18 after facing trauma and mental illness throughout her life.    I support AFSP to stop suicide and bring hope and healing to people like me who are survivors of suicide loss.

I walk in support of my dear friends who have attempted suicide and survived.  I support AFSP to advocate for research and policies that will make education and treatment widely available for those impacted by suicide attempts so that they can keep going on their recovery journeys.

I walk in honor of my high school friends who turned to each other for support when there was too much stigma and fear around sharing with adults.  I support AFSP to build awareness and end the stigma so that no person, young or old, has to fight alone.