2010 Out of the Darkness Walk
On Sunday, October 24 at 8:00 a.m. I’ll be walking at Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, Florida. Siesta Key is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I’ve done this walk before. It is intense – partly because of the beauty which provides an elegant backdrop to a very deeply emotional gathering.
The walk is a fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This organization is studying the causes of suicide. They also provide support to the survivors of suicide. They produce materials to teach, train, support and illuminate – on a topic that has traditionally remained in the dark. Thus, the theme: Out of the Darkness.
My son Adam was a casualty of suicide. Suicide is preventable. Please support me in this effort. If you cannot walk , please donate. Even a small donation will help. It all adds up. Adam was important to me and to many other people. He was well loved. I walk in his honor and out of my love for him, and I walk to help prevent this tragic loss from happening to another mother. Please join me.
To sign up to walk with me: click here.
To donate: click here.
View Last Year’s Walk
Myth and Humanity
Adam as a Hussar by Carl Mefferd
Adam loved mythology. When he was about 8 years old, he became extremely curious about myths. At that time, he began to read about Roman mythology… and he later read Greek, Norse, Celtic and Indian. He was drawn to the archetypal stories of heroes, life journeys, stuggle. In school, he was often sidelined at that time. It wasn’t until 4th grade that he began to emerge as a gifted and unique thinker. Before then, he was just viewed as different.
His attraction to the heroic struggles of ancient men never waned. He often painted or drew characters from ancient Rome. He listened to music from the Russian Army Band… large, bold dramatic movements. And whenever a particularly challenging event was in his path, Adam loved to listen to Queen. “We Are the Campions.” It was at these times that he would pace and listen to the driving music, and deeply contemplate and psych himself into the frame of mind of confidence, certainty… clarity of purpose, determination.
I often hear Adam telling me to be braver. I hear him telling me to stand up and to step forward and to believe in myself and in my purpose… these must have been the messages he heard from the gods… his coaches in his life’s short journey.
Nelson Mandela & Adam
I thought of Adam tonight when Nelson Mandela won the Arthur Ashe Award n the ESPY Awards. A video narrated by Morgan Freeman beautifully illustrated the healing that took place in South Africa in 1995. Read more
