Jerry’s Walk — Illuminating Suicide Awareness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention and awareness, will host its seventh annual Suicide Awareness Walk on Sunday, April 30, at St. Clairsville-Richland Township Memorial Park.

The organization was created by the family of Jerry Williams, whose daughter Sandy Williams said was well known in the Ohio Valley but was lost to suicide in 2011.

“After suffering such a devastating loss, we were firm in our commitment to remove the stigma that hangs over suicide and make it safe for those battling with suicidal feelings to reach out for help,” Sandy Williams said.

Sandy Williams said an average of 47,000 people are lost to suicide annually and that the number is rising.

“We cannot stand by and allow people to suffer,” she said. “We need to reach out and embrace people, so they know they are not alone.”

The cost of the event is $20 per person; there is no cost for military veterans or children under age 12. Those interested in participating may register online at www.jerryswalk.org. Walk-up registration on the day of the walk will begin at 2 p.m. The walk itself will begin at 3 p.m. All proceeds will be used for suicide prevention and education programs in the Ohio Valley.

“The walk is more than just a fundraiser,” Sandy Williams said. “This walk is meant to raise awareness and confront the stigma surrounding suicide and, for those who have been touched by suicide, to provide an atmosphere of mutual support. Our goal is to create a safe space for those who need support, as well as for families and friends to remember, reflect, and celebrate those we’ve lost to suicide.”

Anyone wishing to register for the walk or donate to Jerry’s Walk may do so at www.Jerrryswalk.org.