Letter to the Editor

On September 25th, more than 800 people participated in the 6th Annual Fargo Moorhead “OUT OF DARKNESS” community walk.  People willing to face the hurt and misunderstanding that surrounds suicide. The crowd walked, listened and shed tears as families shared their stories and at the end of the day gained a hint of resolution and hope.

A special thanks to our generous sponsors Gate City Bank, Prairie St. John’s, Sanford Health, Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Riverview Family Dental, Baker Garden & Gift, RD Offutt Co., Center for Sleep, Boulger Funeral Home, Sertoma Club, Nash Finch, Schneider, Schneider & Schneider Law Firm, Sigma Nu Fraternity. And thanks to our generous in-kind sponsors and volunteers Erbert & Gerbert’s, Rat from Y-94 FM, Stephanie Goetz from KVLY, Ann Arbor Miller Photography, Hornbacher’s, Sandy’s Donuts, Renaissance Productions, Nativity Church, High Plains Reader, and Global Electric Motor Cars LLC, West Fargo High School National Honor Society, MSUM Women’s Swimming and Diving Team, the Concordia Men and Women Soccer Teams and the FM Derby Girls. Over $45,000 was raised to further the work of the ND Chapter for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. We did it together and are preparing now to do it again next year on Sept. 30th at Lindenwood Park in Fargo.

We know we cannot eliminate the torment of depression or the deep feelings that accompany suicide within a family, but by having this walk we learn that others share our struggles and grief. So we move on as we gradually grow in our understanding the nature of this disease. And we will remember the light that our loved ones brought into the world, a light that will always live on inside of us and in those lives s/he touched. And we remember that we are here and alive, and that we can best honor our loved ones by going on despite our loss, our pain, and our questions. 

Mary J. Weiler
ND Chapter - AFSP
1121 – 4th Ave. South
Fargo, ND 58103
Phone:  1-701-219-4110