The Ashe Suicide/Depression Awareness and Prevention Task Force held a suicide awareness campaign entitled “Walking Out of Darkness” Saturday morning at the 1904 Ashe County Courthouse.

After a week that was full of mucky and gloomy weather, many ASAP supporters were ecstatic to see the clouds clear the skies in time for the awareness walk. Ashe County Healthy Carolinians Chairperson Nancy Kautz expressed how the sunlight also served as a symbolic meaning for Saturday’s event.

“It was such a beautiful day and it was so good to see the sunlight,” Kautz said. “Overall, the sunlight symbolized how there is hope, light, and help for those who are struggling with depression.”

Altogether, 70 people came out for the mile long walk that started at the courthouse steps and ventured to the traffic light in Jefferson before traveling to the Dairy House and rendezvousing back at the starting line.

The black and gold marching banner was custom designed by Debbie and Gary Prange of SSS Ink. which carried ASAP’s slogan of, “Working to raise awareness of and reduce the rate of suicide in Ashe County.”

A quartet of occupational health students from Ashe County High School led the parade of ASAP supporters on the excursion as they displayed the task force’s defining banner so that all bystanders and curious onlookers know what ASAP is and the cause it campaigns for.

Kautz went on to express her astonishment of how many supporters awakened early Saturday morning to express their vigilance in the ongoing struggle of reducing suicide and raising depression awareness in the community.

“At first we only expected about 20 people, but the number of supporters kept growing and before we knew it we had a grand total of 70 walkers as it was amazing to see so many folks come out to help raise awareness,” Kautz said.

Although Kautz was surprised by the number of avid supporters who were in attendance at Saturday’s cause, she noted how awareness and support has been sparse in a tightly woven community.

“The stigma surrounding suicide and depression in Ashe County is that people don’t understand it,” Kautz said. “People tend to fear the stigma surrounding suicide so hopefully Saturday’s walk will help to raise additional awareness in the area.”

Saturday’s event would not have been possible without the generous support and donations from local businesses. BoJangle’s of Jefferson and Dr Pepper of West Jefferson furnished breakfast as well as refreshments and K&K Stitching donated more than 50 custom t-shirts, Kautz said.

“Saturday once again proved that as a community we have a voice to say that the suicide rate in Ashe County is unacceptable and it must change,” Kautz said.