Residents of the Quad Cities will walk to help save lives and raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention.
The annual community walk, Out of the Darkness, will take place this weekend at the Wharton Field House in Moline. The event is sponsored by the Illinois Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).
Executive Director Angela Cummings said the walk has been held in the Quad Cities for over a decade. The Quad Cities walk is one of 17 throughout the state.
At the walk, Cummings said each participant will receive “honor beads.” Each color represents a different connection to the cause.
"There's really specific colors. So green if you've struggled personally, white if you've lost a child, red if you've lost a spouse," Cummings said. "And these beads, once people put them on, it allows them to look around a crowded field and know exactly who understands exactly how they feel."
According to the release, in 2021, over 50% of Americans were affected by suicide in some way.
The walk will begin Sunday (Sept. 15) at 2 pm in Moline, with an opening ceremony at 1 pm. The event is free of charge.