_{Walkers began their 18-mile journey at sunset}

On June 26, 1,500 walkers, their family members and friends, and hundreds of volunteers from across the country gathered at Government Center in downtown Boston for AFSP's 2010 Overnight walk.

Amidst the backdrop of one of America’s most historic cities, participants walked 18 miles through the night to create awareness and raise funds to support AFSP’s research and education programs to prevent suicide, increase advocacy, and assist survivors of suicide loss. To date, the 2010 Overnight has raised over $2.2 million, before expenses.

 “The heart of this movement is a better public understanding of the causes of suicide, a reduction in stigma, development of new research-based interventions -- and a growing constituency of people like you, who suffer with depression and other disorders that put you at risk for suicide, or who know the terrible pain of losing a loved one,” AFSP Executive Director Robert Gebbia told participants during opening ceremonies.

"We walked to honor a wonderful young man," said Kristin Quigley of New Jersey, team captain of the Tommy Fuss Team. "Tommy deserves to be honored and remembered everyday. We walked in his honor and to save others from the pain he had to endure, and prevent others from suffering the pain we have suffered as survivors."

"Participating in the walk was both healing and inspiring and I know that my son, Peter, was very proud of us," said Ann Deluca of Massachusetts. "I am now fully engaged in this fight to end suicide.”

“The event was very well planned,” said Dr. Stephanie Lash, a neurologist from Maine who lost her physician husband to suicide. “Particularly moving was the opening ceremony, when participants took the stage and stood in front of their luminary bags, honoring the loved ones they had lost. My 13-year-old son got to see a boy his own age on stage that also lost a father. I think it helped a great deal.”

"I walked because a year and a half ago I was clinically depressed and made a suicide attempt. I wanted to offer hope to others who might be in the same dark place I was. I met so many amazing people throughout the night and was truly inspired," said Nathan Minor from Atlanta.

The Overnight raises funds and also creates national awareness, and the media plays a vital role in helping spread information about suicide prevention, mental illness and the walk to the general public.

The walk was covered by the local NBC-TV affiliate, and stories aired on WBUR-AM and WBZ-AM radio, in addition to the Overnight's media sponsor, WZLX-FM, who were at the event and promoted it live on-air. Dozens of newspaper articles about the Overnight were published throughout Massachusetts and around the country leading up to the event. To view these stories, visit the press section at TheOvernight.org.

About 30 Overnight participants also reported live from the event via Twitter. To read these posts, visit www.search.twitter.com and type in the “#theovernight".

AFSP would like to express its appreciation to the walkers, volunteers and crew, and to their family and friends who came out in support of them.

The 2011 Overnight will take place in New York City on June 4-5. Registration is now open.