St. Louis Walk

Join us on September 24, 2023

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Welcome to the Out of the Darkness

St. Louis Walk  

09/24/2023

Event Details

Date: 09/24/2023

Location: Creve Coeur Lake Park, St. Louis, MO

Check-in Time: 9:30 am

Event End Time: 3:00 pm

Contact Information

Walk Chair: Phyllis Blackwelder, 314-703-1600, afspstlouiswalk@gmail.com


The Out of the Darkness Community Walk is a journey of remembrance, hope, and support. It unites our communities and provides an opportunity to acknowledge the ways in which suicide and mental health conditions have affected our lives and the lives of those we love and care about.

Event Schedule:
Saturday, September 23, 2023
9:30 AM to 11:30 AM - Early Walk T-shirt pick-up for participants raising $150 individually along with team shade tent, tables, etc. drop off.
Sunday, September 24, 2023
9:30 AM - Site registration, shirt pick-up, and raffle sales open.
10:00 AM - Gizmo's Pawsome Guide to Mental Health Read-Along story time in Children's Activities Area (Designed for 4- to 11-year-old children-anyone can attend).
10:15 AM - Tony Scott, Radio personality 96.3 R & B for the Lou on the Audacy App
11:00 AM - Miss Missouri Volunteer - Faith Whatley-Blaine
11:30 AM - Zach Sanfilippo - Gateway City Ghostbusters
12:00 PM - Honor Bead Ceremony, Bugles Across America plays TAPS, Dove Release and Bagpipers perform.
1:00 PM - Gizmo's Pawsome Guide to Mental Health Read-Along story time in Children's Activities Area (Designed for 4- to 11-year-old children-anyone can attend).

2:00 PM - Raffle Sales and Paws for Prevention raffle end. Winners will be notified by phone. Need not be present to win.
2:45 PM - Merchandise sales end.
3:00 - Event ends.

 

If you're looking for support and/or resources, please visit www.afsp.org/get-help and www.afsp.org/resources.


Register to Walk With Us!

Returning participant? Thank you for being a Walk Alumni! When you click the register button be sure to click the blue Login link under "Been Here Before?"

Having trouble registering?  Click here to watch a step-by-step guide. See FAQs below if you have any questions.

If you’ve already registered and would like to either create a new team or join an existing one, log into your account and click on the “change team membership” option on the right hand side of your dashboard tab (on mobile you’ll need to click “dashboard” first). View this video tutorial for more help.

There's now an app to make it even easier to raise funds and receive updates!

Click below to get started!

     

And don't forget about all the ways you can FUNdraise!


 

Ways You Can Help

Volunteer at the Event

Event Committee and Day-of Walk volunteers are always needed and we cannot be successful without them! 

Send an email to afspstlouiswalk@gmail.com to sign-up today! Thank you!

 

Become a Sponsor

Sponsoring the St. Louis Walk shows your community and employees that your business cares about mental health and preventing suicide. Contact afspstlouiswalk@gmail.com to become a sponsor today!

 
Fundraise to Help #StopSuicide

                                        

$150+ - Raise $150 by 09/24/2023 and receive the official Out of the Darkness Walk t-shirt!   Donations can be made to a team as a whole,  but the T-shirt, VIP card, and other incentives are based only on INDIVIDUAL fundraising.  

     

$1,000+ - Raise $1,000 by 09/24/2023 and receive the VIP WALKER STAR FUNDRAISER CARD and lanyard!   Donations can be made to a team as a whole, but the T-shirt, VIP card, and other incentives are based only on INDIVIDUAL fundraising.  

Promote the Walk in Your Community! 

Follow us on social! @OOTDWalks 

Post on your social accounts and share why you walk with your community!

Display a Yard Sign advertising the St. louis walk at your home or business. Email Phyllis Blackwelder at afspstlouiswalk@gmail.com to request one or more. No longer available.

 
Team Corner

Become a Team Captain

Team Central

 

Create a FB Fundraiser through your account or it will not connect to your page! This is super easy in the app btw (wink wink) 

FAQs

What is the format for Walk day?
Walk at your leisure from 9:30AM until 2:00PM!

Is there a registration fee?
No, there is no registration fee to participate.

 

If I raise enough money, will my whole team get a shirt?
No. The event shirts are only given to individuals who raise $150. If your whole team wants a shirt, each member must raise $150

 

How do I make an offline donation?
To send a donation by check, please complete this form and send it with your check to the address provided.

 

Is there a fundraising minimum?
No, but we strongly encourage each participant to set a $150 fundraising goal to help support AFSP's work to stop suicide and receive the official walk t-shirt!

 

Can I register at the Walk? Yes!  You can register in-person at the Walk from the time check-in begins until the walk starts. Walk donations are accepted until December 31st.

Are dogs allowed? Yes! Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome at the walk.

Bring your furry friend to the Paws for Prevention tent, register you pup and receive 1 raffle ticket for the Purina Basket, a doggie bandana and a collapsible water bowl. Visit with the volunteers and their dogs from Dogs on Duty Therapy Dogs

 

Parking, route, and other info will be updated as we get closer to Walk Day.

For additional questions, please email afspstlouiswalk@gmail.com

 

Day-of Experience: Resources & Activities

On-Site Activities

Stop by the AFSP Store for merchandise, visit the photo booth, and more!

"Why We Walk" Photos

Send your loved one's photo for our NEW "Why We Walk" digital photo display.

Every year, at our AFSP Out of the Darkness Walk, we have photographs of our loved ones on display. New this year - our loved ones' photos will be displayed digitally on a large screen.

Because our walk attendance has grown (and keeps growing each year), if I have created a poster for your loved one for a previous walk, please let me know that you would like it used again. I will not be redesigning past posters/collages. If you are new to the walk and would like to have a photograph of your loved one included at this year’s walk, please email a photo and put "Walk Photo" in the subject line, and include in the body of the email the person's name, and any brief message you'd like displayed with the photo to Sue at:  afspwalkpics@gmail.com

Photo file type should be jpeg and a high enough resolution that it can be enlarged without getting grainy. If you would like, you can send more than one photo, and I will design a collage. 

When you send your photo, you will receive a reply from me stating that I received it. If you don't receive a reply within 3 days, please resend. Deadline to submit photo(s) is Sept. 17, 2023, but earlier is always appreciated!

 
Honor Beads

Honor Beads will be available on-site to show your connection(s) to the cause.

Honor Bead Ceremony Participants

We are looking for volunteers to represent one of the 10 honor bead colors for our Honor Bead Ceremony taking place at Noon during the walk.

White - Loss of a Child
Red - Loss of a Spouse or Partner
Gold - Loss of a Parent
Orange - Loss of a Sibling
Purple - Loss of a Relative or Friend
Silver - Loss of a First Responder
Green - A Personal Struggle or Attempt
Teal - Supporting Someone Who Struggles or has Attempted
Blue - Supporting Suicide Prevention
Rainbow - Honoring LGBTQ+IA Community

If interested, please contact Phyllis Blackwelder at afspstlouiswalk@gmail.com

I'm Walking for Buttons

Don't forget to pick up your I'm Walking for Button. You'll find them near the Honor Beads.

 
Hope & Healing

Share messages of hope and remembrance.

Messages of Hope and Healing

Write messages of Hope and Healing on the NEW Why We Walk walls located across the walking path.

Are you in need of a bit of comfort during the event? Visit our Comfort Station and have a chat with our Comfort Volunteer.

ALUMNI BUTTONS

NEW THIS YEAR! If you have been participating in the St. Louis walk for multiple years, stop by the registration desk to grab your Alumni Button.

 

Children's Activities

Bring your child(ren) to the children's activity area. There will be lots of fun stuff to do there.

Facepainting
Rock painting
Coloring pages
Ring Toss
Ladder Toss
Cornhole
Giant Pong
Giant Jenga
Sensory Bins


 

Register by clicking the button at the top of the page

 

Thank you, participants, volunteers, donors, and sponsors, for your support! Together, we can save lives and bring hope.


If you or someone you know is in a crisis, dial 988 or text TALK to 741-741