Loved ones of people who’ve died by suicide will gather in downtown Crawfordsville to raise awareness of suicide prevention.
A Walk of Hope, organized by members of local group The Honest Woman, kicks off at noon Monday at Pike Place. The event is sponsored by Trinity Life Ministry.
For co-organizer Kaylie Edwards, the event is a way to mark one year since her best friend, Taylor Lively, died by suicide on April 5, 2020 at the age of 26.
The Rosedale woman worked at a long-term care facility in Clinton and had completed training to become a licensed certified nursing assistant, according to her obituary.
“She was kind. She was someone who would help somebody else even though she was fighting her own battle,” Edwards said.
Edwards didn’t want to think about the date at first, but then she decided to “do something that could potentially help somebody else.”
When she told Pace Dairy co-workers Lisa Ramsey and Tracy Mobley about her idea of carrying a sign through downtown in support of people living with mental health issues, they said she wasn’t going to walk alone.
Ramsey and Mobley have also lost people to suicide.
“So we have just kind of banded together to be a support group for each other, you know. No one wants to be alone on those days,” Ramsey said.
The event will include remarks from a former Pace employee whose son died by suicide. Other suicide loss survivors are also welcome to speak.
A table will be set up with pictures of walkers’ loved ones. Photos can be sent to Brown at kayliebrown2011@live.com.
“If I could help even just one person, maybe it will all make sense. Maybe I will find hope or peace. And maybe I could make [Lively] proud,” Edwards said.
Tickets will be sold for a raffle with items including a Nintendo Switch Lite, two Alexa Echo Dots with a smart LED light bulb, a Ninja Air Fryer and a 40-inch Samsung Full HD Smart TV. Fishing, car wash and self care baskets will also be raffled off.
The cost is $1 for one ticket or $5 for six tickets. Proceeds from the drawing will go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Businesses interested in donating to the raffle can contact Edwards at 765-505-9867 or Ramsey at 765-366-4812.
If you or a loved one have contemplated suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text TALK to 741741.
