VERONA-CEDAR GROVE

Residents bring suicide prevention walk to Verona

Joshua Jongsma
NorthJersey

A pair of Verona residents will organize a walk in Verona Park in October for a cause that’s near and dear to their heart. 

Verona Park.

Christina Sandy and Rosemary Gabbe put together an Out of the Darkness Walk for suicide prevention scheduled for Oct. 22 in Verona Park. The walk, affiliated with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, starts registration at 1:30 p.m., with the walk at 3:30 p.m. 

The duo appeared at a July 17 Verona Township Council meeting to spread the word so they can raise money for their cause, which they said is important to them.

“It’s important for Verona because there are resources available to Verona for suicide prevention issues,” Sandy said.

The local walk has raised $2,300 and has 41 participants as of Wednesday afternoon, July 19. The fundraising page sets a goal of $25,000. 

Gabbe said that the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers many resources for people who are struggling, and that no organization does as much to raise money for the cause. 

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“The money that we raise through the walk can be used to take advantage of the programs that we have within their organization,” Gabbe said. 

In addition to fundraising walks, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention also offers training courses to recognize and cope with the issues related to suicide, and promotes educational programs in schools. 

The Verona walk will include information tables about mental illness and suicide. Some of the walk's activities will include music, raffle baskets, snacks, and temporary tattoos. Participants can also wear different-colored beads to indicate their connection to suicide or mental illness, such as white for losing a child, red for a spouse or partner, gold for a parent, and other options. 

Verona Mayor Kevin Ryan thanked Sandy and Gabbe for their efforts promoting an issue that may have been swept under the rug in the past. Deputy Mayor Michael Nochimson also suggested placing information about the walk on the municipal website to further promote it and help it grow.

“Once you get a core group [of people], they return the following year and just build,” Nochimson said. 

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, with an average of 44,193 deaths per year, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's website. By the year 2025, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention set its goal to reduce the annual suicide rate by 20 percent. 

“It’s a really great goal,” observed Gabbe, “and we can all be part of that as a community.”

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com