Lake Eufaula first Out of the Darkness Walk
The first Lake Eufaula Out of the Darkness Walk had a great turnout on Saturday, Sept. 21, despite the grueling heat that kept some from participating. For others, the triple temperatures didn’t stop them from gathering to remember their loved ones lost to this darkness. Families, friends and coworkers all gathered at the Pavilion to bring awareness to suicide and do their part to prevent others from going through this heartbreak.
“It was a great turnout for our first official year,” Organizer Sharina Little said. “We had 36 individuals complete the entire route and four additional walkers joined us at the midway point due to late running ball games.”
There were at least seven specific names of loved ones written on cards and worn to remember along with VWF members who walked for the “22 a day.” That number is from the estimated 22 veterans who commit suicide daily in the United States. One woman drove from Tulsa because it was her son’s 7-year “angelversary” and she wanted to do something to honor him. She also just needed the camaraderie of a group who understands the pain of losing a loved one to suicide.
Sharina has seen a lot of loss. She has lost an uncle, five former classmates/ friends and even her nephew to suicide.
“I had seen enough heartbreak from this deadly darkness, but suicide got up-close and personal in October of 2018 when my 18-year-old nephew committed suicide just days before his 19th birthday. My middle child, Jess, and Brayden, were born four days apart and had always been close. So when he killed himself his freshman year of college we were devastated. Living with the knowledge that this could have been 100% preventable rips my heart out at times. We will never know who he would have become as a man, a husband and even a father. I feel like our entire family got robbed because it could have been prevented. Yet somehow this mental health darkness convinced him that taking his life was the only answer. He was super smart, loved technology and gaming. He was such a polite, young man who did track and graduated with honors just months before he made the decision to end it all and we were left with all the questions: Why did this happen? What could I have said or done to stop this tragedy? How can I help anyone else who is fighting this darkness?”
That’s when Sharina and her family decided to join others to bring awareness to suicide by joining in prevention walks like this one. First the family participated in an Out of the Darkness Walk being held in Woodward in 2019. Then COVID-19 hit and the 2020 and 2021 walks had to be virtual. When Sharina and her husband, Chris, moved to Eufaula they made posters and walked along Highway 150 by the state park carrying their signs. In 2022, Tahlequah held their first walk, and since it was close, “Team Little” participated in that year and again last year.
“Finally getting to do this year’s first Lake Eufaula Out of the Darkness Walk in Brayden’s memory just seemed fitting,” Sharina said. “With all the recent suicides in our area, I decided we needed to organize a walk right here in McIntosh County. It’s the one cause of death that is preventable and we need to work together in our communities to help anyone fighting those dark thoughts.”
Sharina stated she was so grateful for all the organizations that came along side to sponsor and help promote the event, from the Eufaula Area Chamber to Dawn’s Place, VFWA Eufaula Post 8798, Under One Roof, Southern Plains Tribal Health, Night Owls Diner, The Lakeside Gypsy, Wildflower Photography by Nikki, Selina and Jimmy Dornan, Olivia Burrus, Southern Spitfire Jewelry and so many more who helped even with their bingo night back in June to raise funds.
“We raised a total of $5,348 which exceeded the goal I wanted to set initially. We also met lots of new people, heard so many survivors of suicide stories, and now I’m probably even more driven to keep fighting against this one preventable death. If the ones who were thinking about suicide could only hear what these family and friends have went through after their loved ones made that awful choice. I hope others can somehow see out of that dark place and choose to live. I pray they choose to stay. It does get better and there are people who will listen and help fight with you.
“People are still surprised by suicide. I know our family was. I was even taken back by the number of people who told me their story upon seeing my flier for the walk in my shop. I’ve cried and hugged complete strangers a lot during the last six months. And honestly, we need to surprise people. We need to keep talking about suicide and help find more resources for those struggling in this darkness. Most of all, we need to learn to listen and be kind because we never really know what mental battles others might be fighting daily. We need to let them know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and we will hold their hand and walk with them until they can see their way out of this darkness.”
If you are in crisis please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting 741-741.
