3rd Annual Suicide Prevention Walk-a-thon a moving experience

When Live On organizers Kim Carnes Molina and daughter Amber Chambers lost Junior - their son and brother - they turned their personal tragedy into an effort to save others and help heal those that have survived.

This year was Live On's 3rd Annual Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk-a-thon. Monies raised from the walk-a-thons help with the cost of outreach and the two support groups held once a month each. One group is for anyone who has lost someone to suicide and the other is for people who have the ideation of suicide. The meetings are held the second Monday of the month. FOr those who lost someone the meetings are held at 5:30-6:30 and those with ideation held at 6:30 -7:30 at the Refuge church in Angels, behind BHHS.

Local author and survivor Charity Maness spoke at the onset of the walk-a-thon relating her story of loss and the need to embrace Live-On's philosophy of 'breaking the silence and stigma associated with suicide.'

This year to date in Calaveras County there have been 15 confirmed suicides, 99 in the last ten years. Calaveras County exceeds twice the national average.

 The 99 shoes symbolize the 99 suicide deaths in Calaveras County in the last 10 years.

 Kim Carnes Molina and Amber Chambers in front of last years signature quilt, where those who lost a loved one to suicide can sign their name and leave a message.

For more information on Live On visit their facebook page at  https://www.facebook.com/liveoncalaveras?ref=ts