No One Walks Alone

Does anyone want to walk with me? 

What started as a single text turned into Zannon Garza, Leadership Collier Class of 2022, captaining a team for the #OutoftheDarkness walk supporting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. According to the website, 33 teams participated, equaling 265 participants and raising over $21,600 dollars. The LCF Best Class Ever 2022 team raised $870 toward the final numbers, and while there, they ran into LCF alum Trista Meister, who helmed her own team and had a table at the event for the Collier Coalition for Healthy Minds.

When asked about the importance of participating in the ASFP walk, Kathy Smart, VP of Marketing and Sales for PBS Contractors, stated, “Fairly new to Naples, I was unaware of ASFP and when asked to walk through my Leadership Collier Class, the answer was an unquestionable ‘yes.’ I knew it was important to me, but it wasn't until I got there on Sunday morning and collected my beaded necklaces that it hit me. In my lifetime, I have had my children talk to me about suicide, a sister who tried to commit suicide, and four friends...beautiful, amazing people on this earth, take their lives...one of which just last year. On Sunday, I heard the stories, I saw the support - this is what we need - but more of it! We are getting better, but we need to talk MORE about mental health, mental illness, mental SURVIVAL not SUICIDE. It's not always easy, and I know it won't always work, but we can surely get better at it. One step at a time."

The Leadership Collier Class of 2022 participants included Chadd Garcia, Kathy Smart, Marisa Cleveland, AJ Attavar, Holly Salvatore, Alex Breault, and Zannon Garza. They were joined by their family and friends.