Strong showing at 3rd Annual Suicide Awareness Walk
Published 11:39 am Monday, March 9, 2020
- Becky Vaughn, who has organized the annual suicide awareness walk in Cordele since its inception three years ago, is flanked by Chamber President Monica Simmons (left) and Chamber volunteer Evelyn Dowell (right).
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More than 150 area residents turned out at the Crisp County Recreation Department’s track on Saturday to participate in the Third Annual Area Suicide Awareness Walk.
Becky Vaughn, who has organized the event since its inception three years ago, said she was grateful for the turnout and for the support from a vast array of corporate sponsors and benefactors.
Her husband Danny welcomed the participants Saturday morning. “This event is more about starting a conversation than it is about walking a track,” he said, noting that there were a variety of resources on hand at Saturday’s event for those who may be suffering from the loss of a loved one to suicide.
“The reality is that we’re here because we know someone who got into that dark hole and couldn’t get out,” said local pastor Scott Alexander. “It’s okay to not be okay, because there’s a God in heaven who loves us no matter what.”
Saturday’s walk was held in memory of Seth Hammonds, who passed away in September of 2014.
Help exists for people considering suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
Danny Vaughn (right) welcomes participants in Saturday’s third annual Suicide Awareness Walk as local pastor Scott Alexander stands by at left.
Crisp Probate Judge Amber Holloway (right) signs an oversized card expressing support for those who lost loved ones to suicide at Saturday’s annual suicide awareness walk.
Local suicide awareness walk organizer Becky Vaughn (left) poses with Sheila Horne Hammonds at Saturday’s suicide awareness walk. Hammonds is the mother of the late Seth Hammonds, in whose memory Saturday’s event was held.
