I'm walking for those who have thought about giving up.

Hi everyone, I’m Ava and this is my second year walking for the out of the shadows fundraiser. 

Last year I chose to raise awareness for those struggling silently, however this year I am choosing to walk for Myself and those who have thought about giving up. I believe it’s finally time to give myself and others recognition for overcoming these challenges and obstacles and choosing to stay. I’m walking for those who have though that the world was better without them, not in a dramatic way.. just quietly, when no one was watching. They’ve looked at the roof and thought “I can’t do this anymore” not loudly, no tears - just numb and heavy. Im walking for those who knows the feeling when brushing your teeth feels impossible, where you’re not “actively dying” but you’re not really living either. 

Your not dramatic. Your drowning silently in a life that demands you smile through the suffocaton I don’t know everyone’s story but I know how heavy silence can be, how sharp 2am feels, how invisible you feel even in a room full of people. I’m not walking to say “it gets better!” I’m walking to say I’ve carried the same weight. And I’m still breathing even on the days I wanted to stop. If today your only choice was to keep holding on, that’s not weakness that’s everything. You don’t owe the world a reason to stay. You only owe yourself the chance to see what comes next. I know surviving is brutal.

It’s ugly. 

It’s raw. 

And sometimes the only victory is that you made it though today. That alone is powerful. That alone is enough. Your not invisible, your not alone. 

So I'm walking to raise funds for Lifeline's suicide prevention services and 24/7 crisis support hotline to ensure no one faces their darkest moments alone. 

A donation of just $39 will answer a call to connect and bring hope to 1 person in crisis.

Please make a donation and support my walk to help those who really need it most - THANK YOU!!💙