Walk for H.O.P. E. taking place today

SANDPOINT — Community members are gathering today to Walk for H.O.P.E. to promote suicide awareness, hope and healing. H.O.P.E. is an acronym for “Hold On Pain Ends.”

This year’s walk will begin at 5 p.m., starting at Dog Beach at the north end of the Long Bridge. Walkers will make their way across the bridge and back. Balloons, bracelets and T-shirts will be provided to registered participants. There will also be connection time for people to be supportive and get to know one another, as well as food and music, with “Bashful Dan” Young as the disc jockey. The cost is $25 for adults and $20 for youth.

September is Suicide Awareness Month, which is one reason why Walk for H.O.P.E. organizers decided to hold the event the first weekend of the month each year. Not only is it an event to lead into Suicide Awareness Month, but it is also the weekend before the school year begins.

The money raised through the event stays in the community to provide events year-round, such as bringing people in to speak to students at the schools and funding programs throughout the community to promote suicide awareness.

For registration forms, information and inspiration visit: facebook.com/WalkForHope Sandpoint or walkforhopesandpoint.org.