A Walk In Boston For A Good Cause

On June 26, 2010 I am very proud to say I was a participant in a very special event- the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Overnight walk held in Boston. People might be asking what this has to do with my current status of graduating from college and my answer is simple: suicide is something that is never dealt with in this society and in my opinion ever less so in a economy as dismal as this one. I believe that in this current economy many people are feeling stressed beyond belief and feel they have nowhere to turn. I found this day to be life affirming but, yet very sad at the same time.

I was inspired by all the many volunteers who took the time out of their lives to participate in this event. But, I was also saddened to see all the different pictures of the sisters, brothers, daughters, and sons who have taken their own lives. A person might think on the surface that it is a fruitless cause to be championing but, it is not. This is the the most recent volunteer experience I have done in a long time and have received much comfort from.

As I am graduating, I do feel anxious and at times depressed to be graduating in such a economy but, I feel this too will pass, as the saying goes. Before I had experienced this day, I truly had no idea how caring and altruistic people could be about their fellow citizens. It is not a easy walk to accomplish in any measure. First, it is a eighteen mile walk. Secondly, it requires the dedication of being able to either donate or raise at least a thousand dollars to participate in such a walk.


While many people did raise this money, there were at least a half a dozen walkers whom I interacted with that raised double that. One person I know of raised thirty three thousand dollars! The thing that stuns me most however, is that politicians are trying to cut funding such as this. Only a couple of months ago, New York City wanted to cut the funding for crisis hotlines. In a time like this , I think that is not a wise decision. Coming out of this experience, I felt empowered. I believe we, as a country can get through such a hard time.


I only have to remember all the honor beads, I saw on people and the “thank you’s” they gifted people such as me a volunteer with. In the Bible, there is a line that says “too much is given, much is expected.” I believe wholeheartedly in that line. I may have been priviledged in some areas of my life but, I will see my graduation as a way to give back that which I have been given and more. Even though I don’t have a full time job lined up, there are many different ways of fulfilling oneself as a person and I know I can be more.