Benefit walk season heats up as Tucson cools down

Nonprofits are utilizing the Old Pueblo’s cooler weather for benefit walks.

First up is the Tucson Out of Darkness Walk at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Reid Park DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center, 900 S. Randolph Way

The annual walk seeks to raise at least $100,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Arizona Chapter, according to Gina Gillis, special events manager for the nonprofit.

“In Arizona, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death overall, and the second leading cause of death in young people ages 10 to 34, which is staggering. There is a huge swath of youth and young adults who are really struggling and we are working hand-in-hand with the Pima County Suicide Task Force and other organizations to address this health problem,” said Gillis.

The AFSP provides a range of survivor support resources and educational programs for schools and workplaces. Programs include Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention; Healing Conversations: Personal Support for Survivors of Suicide Loss; and More Than Sad, which teaches educators and students about mental health. The organization also provides advocacy and outreach through events such as the upcoming walk, which is free to join.

“We want people to know that they are not alone,” said Roxanne Harmon, who became involved after her daughter’s best friend committed suicide as a senior in high school.

Now the walk chair, Harmon believes that the event is instrumental in healing as people remember loved ones lost to suicide while also supporting those facing mental health issues.

“The walk is not only for those who have lost someone, but also for those who have struggled with mental health challenges in the past and for those who are struggling to find their way right now. We are all in this together,” Harmon said.

The promotion of strength through togetherness is also a cornerstone of the 35th AIDSWALK Tucson, which begins at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15. at Jácome Plaza Park, 101 N. Stone Ave. in downtown Tucson.

For the 10th year, Southern Arizona Aids Foundation (SAAF) will partner with Tucson Meet Yourself in order to provide outreach and education to the community. The partnership includes displays of local and national memorial panels of the AIDS quilt during the three-day festival from Oct. 13 through Oct. 15. This culminates in a quilt-opening ceremony and reading of the names of those lost to AIDS following the walk on Sunday.

“This ceremony is the most beautiful part of the event—it is heavy but impactful. It is so important to make sure that those we have lost are remembered and honored in a respectful way. Honoring those we have lost is one way to make sure the community understands that our programs and services at SAAF serve as a beacon for people who are marginalized and exceptionally stigmatized,” said Monique Vallery, Chief Development Officer of SAAF.

The ceremony is also instrumental in generational education and re-education of the public, according to Vallery.

“The younger generations didn’t grow up hearing about the fear of dying of complications of AIDS and the lack of resources that so many of us witnessed when we lost people we loved. We need to remind folks and re-engage and help educate young people that we are still in the fight. HIV and AIDS are still relevant and prevalent. We are serving more people than ever and will continue to do that for as long as needed,” said Vallery, who hopes to raise $150,000 at the event.

She emphasized that all funds raised stay in Southern Arizona to support programs such as free testing for HIV/AIDS; PREP & PEP: Pre- And Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; and support and resources for LGBTQ+ youth at the Thornhill Lopez Center on 4th. The nonprofit also provides support services for those living with HIV and AIDS.

“Every dollar raised here is a dollar that stays here. We know how hard folks work to make money and we know it can be a stretch to choose between so many worthwhile organizations, but we know we are making an impact,” said Vallery.