Dutchess & Ulster Counties Walk

Join us on September 30, 2023

Welcome to the Out of the Darkness

Dutchess & Ulster Counties Walk

09/30/2023

Event Details

Date: 09/30/2023

Location: Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie & Highland, NY

Check-in Time: 9:00 am

Walk Start Time: 10:00 am

Contact Information

Walk Chair: Maria Idoni (She/Her), 914-610-9156, midoni@afsp.org

What to Expect THIS Saturday!- The walk is rain or shine, so please dress accordingly. It's a little cooler on the Walkway!

Location: Walkway Over the Hudson
Parking is available on BOTH sides.
Ulster: 87 Haviland Road Highland, NY 12528
Dutchess: 61 Parker Avenue Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Upper Landing Park (Elevator Entrance):
83 N. Water St., Poughkeepsie, NY

Walker Arrival Time: 9:00 am - 10:00 am
From 9am 10:00, Both Sides will have their own:

Honor Beads: Honor Beads will be available to show your connection(s) to the cause.

Merchandise: AFSP merchandise will be available for purchase in the LifeSaver Store/Tent. Cash or credit accepted. Each side has different merchandise.

Bathrooms: The restrooms will be open.

Loss and Healing: We will have a Loss & Healing Tent that will display our chapter's Lifekeeper Memory Quilts. There will be quilts on both sides.

Resources: AFSP has partnered with local community organizations and are grateful to have their Resource Tables on both sides.

Water & Snacks:
Hannaford will have a snack tent on Both Sides
Price Chopper/Market 32 has donated water
Jenkins/Lueken Orchards in New Paltz has donated apples.

Healing Activity - Both Sides

Team Photos - Both Sides

At 10:00 am:
The Dutchess & Ulster sides will each have their own opening ceremony.

On the Ulster Side, we will be honoring Steve Miccio, CEO of People-USA. Steve was the first Chairperson for the AFSP Hudson Valley Chapter and through his vision and leadership we are here today stronger than ever. Steve is a champion for mental health and suicide prevention, not only locally, but across the country. The HV/WC Chapter Board Members will be on the Ulster Side.
On the Dutchess Side, the Arlington Color Guard will start the ceremony. Dutchess County survivor Lisa Champion, will be our guest speaker.
The walk will start approx. 10:20/10:30 am.
There is NO CLOSING CEREMONY on either side.
When you walk to the other side, make sure you stop and look at their healing activity, quilts, resources & merchandise.
Pets - We Love our 4 furry supporters! Well behaved Leashed Dogs are allowed. Please clean up after them too!
Children of all ages are welcome.

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

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! Dutchess Side: Please fill out this BRIEF 6 Question Committee Interest Form

Ulster Side: Please fill out this BRIEF Question Committee Interest Form

Send an email to midoni@afsp.org to sign-up today! Thank you!

Become a Sponsor

Sponsoring the Dutchess & Ulster Counties Walk shows your community and employees that your business cares about mental health and preventing suicide. Contact midoni@afsp.org to become a sponsor today!

Fundraise to Help #StopSuicide

$150+ - Raise $150 by 09/30/2023 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 and other incentives are based only on INDIVIDUAL fundraising.}

Promote the Walk in Your Community!

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

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

Where is check-in?
You can now check-in on either side of the Walkway!

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.