JAY — It’s not easy to talk about. It comes as a shock. It’s often hard for adults to realize they need help and to ask for it but it’s also hard on the loved ones left behind after a suicide, said Leigh Brown of North Jay.

From the loss of her husband, George, to suicide two years ago, Brown, her children, Jake and Geordan, and friends are organizing an Out of the Darkness Community Walk for Oct. 16. It would have been the couple’s 24th wedding anniversary.

“A life is lost to suicide every 16 minutes in the United States. However, most Americans remain unaware that suicide is a national health problem,” Brown said. “The impact suicide has on the lives of family members, friends, co-workers and the community is devastating.”

Organizing the event and creating a Team George for the October walk, Brown believes,  will help in her healing as she puts her belief in “paying it forward,” into action.

If she can help even just one person by bringing suicide prevention to everyone’s attention then she feels all of this will be worth its while, she said.

The Oct. 16 walk begins at 9 a.m. at the Jay Middle School and is three miles long. A figure eight path will be walked twice. Participants can form teams or walk individually while taking pledges and raising money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This is one of four walks being held in Maine between September and November.

The effort won’t only raise funds for a national organization, but 50 percent of the proceeds will be returned to the community to use for education or treatment to combat suicide.

Brown hasn’t decided where those funds need to go in the Jay community but school programs or helping to open up discussion of the topic of suicide and how to ask for help may be high on her list of considerations.

Last year, she heard about the national walk but wasn’t ready to get involved, she said. This year she e-mailed and then talked with the organization and realized, “maybe I can do this.”

She invited friends and family members to help plan not only the walk but fundraisers that begin this month.

“After our meeting, I never felt so inspired. Everyone was willing to help,” she said. As word of the walk spreads, Brown is hearing through Facebook and e-mails from other community members who want help, she said.

Ideas flowed during a second meeting Thursday, including contacting local fire departments to form teams or include a firetruck as part of Team George.

“They are all brothers and George was a part of that,” said committee member Renda Libby.

Brown was an assistant fire chief in Jay.

Starting the Team George fundraising, a monthlong bottle collection will take place at North Jay Redemption. During the month of August, anyone returning bottles can let the attendant there know they want to donate the amount to Team George.

A bake sale will take place Friday, Aug. 6, at Otis Credit Union

One of Brown’s friends, Jeannie Gaudet, is prepared to bake a variety of homemade goodies with all proceeds donated to Team George. To order an item, contact her at 645-5174 or e-mail [email protected].

A sale of Little Caesar pizza kits will be sold in September and raffle tickets will be sold until the day of the walk for items donated by local businesses.

Those interested in walking may sign up at www.outofthedarkness.org or by contacting Brown at 645-3324 or email at [email protected]

Those who can’t walk but want to help or purchase raffle tickets can also contact her.

[email protected]

Pictured are Brown’s wife, Leigh, Renda Libby, Ida Barker, Tammy Bubier, Patti Kilkenny, Brown’s son Geordan and his friend Katie Beaulieu.