MA Cop To Walk Across State For Suicide Awareness

MASSACHUSETTS — Doug Kingsley lost a friend to suicide in 2019. He lost another in 2021.

Kingsley, a police officer in Sherborn, has since undertaken a journey that will take him across the state, hoping to raise awareness about first responder suicide and mental health.

His mission started in Egremont early Wednesday morning, but it's far from the first time he was affected by suicide.

As Kingsley explains it, suicide has hit his life directly on two occasions. In 2019, while with the Army National Guard, Kingsley said he "lost one of my soldiers" to suicide. In 2021, he lost a friend from the police academy to suicide.

"Since these events, I have seen the necessity to raise awareness for police and military suicide prevention," he said.

"It is for this reason that I am walking. I am walking to honor the memories of those who have passed. I am walking to raise awareness for the resources that are available. I am walking to prove that we are not alone in this profession, even though, at times, it might seem like it," he continued.

Kingsley will walk 219 miles on the route from Egremont to the Chatham Lighthouse on Cape Cod. Along the way he hopes to meet others willing to support the cause.

"The secondary purpose of this walk is to meet new people, make new connections, share our stories, have meaningful conversations and get a little exercise along the way," he said.

And he means it. Not only has Kinglsey created social media accounts for people to follow, but he's published a complete list of cities and towns he'll cross during the 10-day trek.

The schedule is listed below, but is subject to alteration, Kingsley said.

In addition to the walk itself, Kingsley is raising money to benefit Blue H.E.L.P., an organization that seeks to "reduce mental health stigma through education, to advocate for benefits for those suffering from post-traumatic stress, acknowledge the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers we lost to suicide, assist officers in their search for healing, and bring awareness to suicide and mental health issues."

For the GoFundMe, click here.

Schedule

Day 1 - October 12

• Egremont
• Great Barrington
• Monterey
• Otis

Day 2 - October 13

• Branford
• Russell
• Westfield

Day 3 - October 14

• West Springfield
• Springfield
• Wilbraham

Day 4 - October 15

• Monson
• Palmer
• Brimfield
• Sturbridge

Day 5 - October 16

• Southbridge
• Dudley
• Webster
• Douglas

Day 6 - October 17

• Douglas
• Uxbridge
• Mendon
• Bellingham
• Franklin

Day 7 - October 18

• Wrentham
• Foxborough
• Mansfield
• Easton
• West Bridgewater

Day 8 - October 19

• Bridgewater
• Halifax
• Plympton
• Kingston

Day 9 - October 20

• Plymouth
• Sagamore Bridge Crossing
• Bourne
• Sandwich

Day 10 - October 21

• Barnstable
• Yarmouth
• Harwich

Day 11 - October 22

• Chatham
• End - Chatham Light House - 37 Main St.