'A Sense of Hope': Suicide Prevention Walk On LI Raises $500K

WANTAGH, NY — More than 3,000 people raised $500,000 at a walk for suicide prevention at Jones Beach.

The Long Island Chapter of The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), a leading suicide research and prevention organization, hosted its annual Long Island "Out of the Darkness" Community Walk along the boardwalk on Oct. 27.

The Jones Beach Walk is one of the top five fundraising walks in the country for AFSP.

"It gives people a sense of hope and of being connected to the people who have been through what they’ve been through," said Ann Morrison-Pacella, Executive Director, AFSP LI. "It’s really impactful."

The walk started at Field 5 at Jones Beach and traveled along the boardwalk for three miles.

“I wish I knew then what I know now," said Carrie Aronson, who lost her teenage daughter Brittany Marie to suicide in 2009. "To have their parents talk to their children, don’t be afraid to talk about suicide, or that they’re feeling depressed. When someone goes to the doctor because they’re sick, they get help. We need to treat our mental health the way we treat our physical health and stop the stigma."