FORT FAIRFIELD – The Fort Fairfield boys soccer team, coach John Ala, assistant coach Mark Dillon and family and friends joined the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s annual “Walk out of the Darkness” Community Walk on September 22 in Houlton.
The 3K community walks are conducted nationwide, from September to December. This year they are expected to unite more than 20,000 walkers and raise more than $2 million. Founded in 1987, AFSP remains the only national not-for-profit organization dedicated to funding suicide prevention research, education and awareness programs both to help prevent suicides and to assist those affected by suicide.
Over $9000 was raised in the Aroostook County walk. Officials will use the funds to establish a network for survivors, including a Surviors Conference Saturday, Nov. 17 in Houlton. (Contact Rhoda Freeman, New England area director, at rfreeman@asfp.org for more information). The Tiger team raised $1422.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens and young adults, and the second leading cause of death for college students.
It is estimated that close to one million Americans make a suicide attempt, more than 30,000 die by suicide and more than 20 million suffer from depression each year.
Contributed photo
FORT FAIRFIELD BOYS SOCCER recently participated in the ‘Walk out of the darkness’ community walk. (front row) Graham Jenkins, Ryan Noyes, Cody Closson, Otis Edgecomb and Andrew Foresman. (back row) Coach John Ala, Brandon Doughty, Travis Noyes, Josh Churchill, Josh Booth, Nate McLaughlin, Austin Dufour, Patrick Kinsey, Jeremy Dillon and assistant coach Mark Dillon. (absent) Kenny Hernandez, Drake Leighton, Jordan McLaughlin and Noah Rush-Mabry.
