ESCANABA — An annual event to raise awareness of depression and funds for suicide prevention will be held at the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds this Saturday, Sept. 14.

In the Miracle of Life Building, registration begins at 10 a.m. for the End the Silence Walk. As a fundraiser for the Delta County Suicide Prevention Task Force (DCSPTF), there is a registration fee for adults, children, families and groups.

The walk and DCSPTF itself were started by the Bintner family in memory of two siblings who were each lost to suicide in their teens, 13 years apart. The mutual mission of the event and its partners is to shine a light on the reality of depression and associated dangers, including the irreversible act of taking one’s own life.

Gathered inside the Miracle of Life pavilion will be a number of community organizations with this common goal. In addition to the DCSPTF, Celebrate Recovery, Communities that Care, Great Lakes Recovery Center, Pathways, Bellin Health, Veterans Affairs, Survivor of Suicide Bereavement Group, OSF, Michigan State Police, Youth Empowerment Services (YES) and Victim Services Unit will all occupy booths at the event, offering free educational resources and guidance.

In an opening ceremony beginning at 11 a.m., three guest speakers will address the audience before the group begins walking outside. Michael Dupont and Steve Buckbee are to discuss the matter of suicide among seniors, and Tiffany Hewitt from YES will talk about mentoring in schools.

Counseling for students is one major measure that the DCSPTF supports, considering it the “first line of defense” for kids and teens who may be struggling. Recognizing a lack of resources in that area, they have used the funds raised at End the Silence Walks to hire Self-Reflections Therapeutic Services to provide extra counseling at a few local schools and offer services during the summer months at no cost to students. In addition, DCSPTF has funded scholarships towards careers in social work and donated to Youth Empowering Services, which provides mentoring at the kindergarten through 12 grade levels.

While the cause is a serious one, it’s not purely somber and gloomy at the event. Friendliness lightens the mood, and many people in attendance – whether battling depression themselves, survivors of suicide loss, or there for support – are happy to talk.

From 11:30 to 1:30 p.m., a brat fry and bake sale act as additional fundraisers and nourishment for participants. A raffle, children’s crafts and a bounce house will also be on site.

Last year’s End the Silence Walk – the first one held at the fairgrounds after taking place in Ludington Park since 2009 – ended up raising over $19,000. It also hosted a couple speakers, including a mother who shared her story of losing her son, and a similar lineup of community booths inside.

The DCSPTF has raised over $240,000 for its initiatives over the last 15 years. Each time the event rolls around during National Suicide prevention Month, hundreds of walkers and donors have participated, pledging to do what they can to address mental health and encourage people at risk that life is worth living.