By Joe Morey
News Editor
The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board unanimously voted to be a platinum sponsor for the upcoming Walk to Fight Suicide – Out of the Darkness Northwoods Walk at Ojibwa Park on October 12. The sponsorship of $2,500 came out of the donation account.
LCO Vice Chairwoman Lorraine Gouge said this is a positive event for the tribe to help sponsor. She added suicide is a leading cause of death in Indian Country and is preventable.
Lead organizer of the walk at Ojibwa Park, Kayla Poppe, stated thanks to walkers and donors, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has been able to set a goal to reduce the annual suicide rate 20% by 2025.
“When you walk in the Out of the Darkness Walks, you join the effort with hundreds of thousands of people to raise awareness and funds that allow the AFSP to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss,” their website states.