On October 26th, the Delbarton Community gathered on Lower-Abbey field to participate in our annual “Raising Hope Suicide Awareness Walk.” This year, the walk hosted over 100 participants, twice the attendance from previous years. Although the event did fall slightly short of its fundraising goal, Dylan Cawley’21, a coordinator of the walk, finds that “having [twice the number of] people at the event and raising awareness about suicide is just as important, if not more.” 

One of the most important parts of the event is the table run by volunteers from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, who distribute materials and can provide moving personal insights about suicide. This year, the Raising Hope coordinators asked Jerri and Jeff Torres to come and share their experience of losing their teenage daughter to suicide. On the topic of the Torres’ impact on the walk, Cawley expressed that, “Their talk was beautiful because it broke down suicide from the epidemic it’s made out to be and showed the real and emotionally devastating effects suicide can cause in a family much like [his] own.”

After this talk, the walk through the fall-clad Jockey Hollow Park ensued. As a participant, I can account for the seemingly perfect weather and beautiful climate of this year’s trek through the park. Following the walk, SAGE dining and the Delbarton Mothers Guild, the hidden heroes of Delbarton, supplied food and refreshments in a barbecue for all the walk’s participants. 

On behalf of the Delbarton Community, a thank you is owed to Mrs. Brown and Mr. Mazzola, the teacher- coordinators of the event, who were instrumental in raising over $8,000 for suicide prevention, as well as the members of the Delbarton community who participated in the event and showed a true passion for suicide prevention.