Second Annual ‘Warr;or Walk’ Planned for September 23 – 5K, Candlelight Vigil to be held during the event

By April Hall, Staff Writer

CHARLOTTE COURT HOUSE – September is Suicide Prevention & Awareness month and to help raise awareness, the second annual ‘Warr;or Walk’ and Candlelight Vigil have been planned for September 23 in Charlotte Court House, (meet behind the administration building), from 6-8:30 p.m. Also in the plans for this year’s event will be a 5K to be held at 6 p.m. along with the walk. The 5K entry fee will be $20, with prizes offered for top three finishers in three categories – men, women and under 18. Proceeds from the entry fee will go towards the Warr;or Walk Scholarship Fund.

Hostesses of the event, Bridgette Malsbury, Dianne Tuck and Anne Waters, who have all lost family members to suicide, are continuing the event in hopes of making the stigma surrounding suicide less taboo and to make everyone aware.

“Why the semi-colon?” said Malsbury. “The semi-colon is a symbol that is used to represent someone’s story not being over yet.”

“Education is the key, the majority of people don’t even know there are ways to prevent, much less ways to raise awareness of suicide,” continued Malsbury. “Let’s be their voice, let’s give hope to others who feel like they live in darkness and break the silence!”

Registration for the walk will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Charlotte County Administration building parking lot, with the walk starting promptly at 6. Upon finishing the walk, participants will receive a candle to join the vigil that will start at 8 p.m.

T-shirts are available for pre-order until September 12 for $16 and a limited number of shirts/sizes will be for sale at the event for $20, with all proceeds benefitting the scholarship fund. To pre-order, visit http://etsy.me/2gptzcy, please note desired sizes upon ordering.

“Just because we live in a small town in rural Virginia, it doesn’t make us immune,” said Malsbury. “Sadly, every one of us has known someone who has died from suicide and if there had been more awareness and support, we wouldn’t all be grieving, instead we would be celebrating their choice to live.”

Look for Warr;or Walk members at the Randolph-Henry High School Homecoming parade on Friday, September 22 as they pass out information and awareness ribbons and then join them on Saturday to help raise awareness and to remember those that have been lost.