Macomb's Annual Out of the Darkness Walk will be held this Saturday (Sept. 27), beginning at 9 a.m. on the front lawn of City Hall.
September is designated as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and the local Out of the Darkness Walk helps to raise awareness, as well as funds for the Illinois' chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Coordinated by Macomb resident Susan Denecke, the 10th annual Macomb/McDonough County event brings together individuals who have lost friends and loved ones to suicide, and those who want to help raise awareness for suicide prevention.
There is no cost to take part in the Out of the Darkness Walk; however, anyone raising $150 for AFSP will receive the 2025 t-shirt. Registration, though not required, can be done online at afsp.org/macombil or at the event.
Featured speakers include Tonya Woods of Industry, who lost her son, Cooper, to suicide in August 2020, and Sarah Kosel of Macomb, who lost her uncle, Timothy, to suicide in June 2014. Woods' message will be the importance of community and finding 'your people,' as well as talking openly about mental illness and suicide. Kosel's message focuses on removing the stigma of talking about suicide, and advocating for more suicide prevention and awareness resources.
'If you haven't attended an Out of the Darkness Walk, it is not the somber, depressing event you might expect. It is a time to get together with friends and family, remember those we have lost to suicide, and bring hope to anyone struggling with their own mental health and life issues,' Denecke said in an earlier story about the walk. 'It is a way to break the stigma of having a mental health condition, suicide ideation and losing a family member or friend to suicide.'
Following the brief presentations, the walk takes place as a short stroll around Macomb's Downtown Square. This year, The 19th Hole in Augusta, will sell drinks and pastries at the event, and donate 10 percent of their gross sales to the initiative.
Out of the Darkness Walk 2025 sponsors include Capital Power, the Brendon and Sawyer Memorial Golf Outing, Therapeutic Solutions of Macomb, McDonough District Hospital Behavioral Health Services, Tri-States Public Radio, Community News Brief, City of Macomb and Macomb Park District.
