Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
THREE OF the five total quilts stand on display in the Lindquist Center gymnasium during the presentation held before the "Break the Silence Walk Through the Pain" suicide awareness walk, Saturday.
By JUSTIN LIBERTOSKI
Ironwood - The third annual "Break the Silence Walk Through the Pain" suicide awareness walk was held Saturday morning at the Lindquist Center at Gogebic Community College.
The event was put on by the Range Suicide Prevention Council.
Rain and cloudy skies forced the event indoors as it began with a presentation followed by a one mile walk around the center. Participants who did not wish to participate in the walk were invited to enjoy fruit and other snacks and talk to the other community members.
Pat Gallinagh, a member of the Range Suicide Prevention Council, led the event.
The stands in the Lindquist Center were full as members of the area came to show their support to those who have lost loved ones to suicide.
The gymnasium featured several tables with information on suicide and there were three quilts on display as well. There are a total of five quilts, with one being kept in Iron Mountain and one in St. Ignace, according to Gallinagh. "We want to prevent suicide throughout the entire Upper Peninsula."
The group also has plans to finish a sixth quilt and have a dedication ceremony for the quilt sometime in early October said Gallinagh.
There were four speakers at the presentation including Lauren Vinopal and Josh Suzik who shared their stories of being survivors of suicide Toni Honkala Schultz who shared the experience of losing her brother, and Denise Haas also a survivor who shared her experiences throughout life and also presented a poem she had written. She ended her speech by performing a song, "I Am Not Alone."
The program ended with Gallinagh encouraging people to attend their Survivors of Suicide meetings.
"Needing help and asking for help is not weak."
