My name is Kristin Quigley. I am the captain of the Tommy Fuss Team. In November of 2006, I lost my 17 year old cousin, Tommy Fuss, to suicide. I will never forget that night. How I was told by my mom. And how I couldn’t even utter the words myself, that Tommy was gone. All of our lives changed that day in so many ways.
This tragedy struck me particularly hard due to my own mental illness. I have suffered from bipolar disorder for many years. It has been and will continue to be a lifelong struggle. However, I have my illness under control right now and am doing excellent. But to this day, I wonder if I could have helped Tommy more by sharing with him my story. How much I struggled in those “dark” years before my diagnosis and treatment. I know what it feels like to feel helpless and powerless. But I also know what it feels like to be in a good place, like I am now! To this day, I wished I had shared that with Tommy, and I will always regret that.
A few months after we lost Tommy, I heard about this walk on the radio. I really didn’t think twice and just decided I was going to do it. I needed to do it, for Tommy, my family, myself, and others still suffering. I was a little nervous though, because no one would walk with me! I asked all of my friends and everyone laughed and said, “20 miles, you’re crazy!” When my Aunt RoseMary (Tommy’s mother) found out about it, she jumped right on board and I was a little surprised! But now, we’ve never looked back! Our team has grown exponentially from walkers to crew! I am so proud!
Once I decided to do the walk and I signed up, it was time to post my fundraising page. I knew that if I was going to do this walk, I needed to share my story. And I did. I sat down one day and typed out my story, took a deep breath, and pressed save. And there it was for the world to see. I was afraid of what reactions I might get from people. I hadn’t told very many people my story for fear of being judged or looked at differently. But I knew my entire purpose of this walk was to encourage people to get help and not be afraid to come forward…so I certainly couldn’t keep quiet any longer. I already regretting not talking to Tommy, my hope was that sharing my story may save someone else from the pain too many of us suffer in silence from. As I always say…We can’t fight something that we keep in the dark! We must bring the issues of mental illness and suicide out of the darkness and into the light or nothing can ever change!
Before the walk, very few people knew my story, but now, just about everyone I knew was going to find out. And to my surprise, the reaction I received was overwhelmingly positive. I got so many hugs, tears and thank yous and many from people I would have never expected. There were a lot of people who were surprised to hear that I suffered from bipolar disorder. And it was good for them to realize that someone like me who was successful and generally happy suffers from a mental illness and is now doing well! I AM the face of mental illness and I am NOT someone to be afraid of!
I had one friend, who I went to high school with and knew me before and after diagnosis and treatment, say to me, “when did you go on medication and start getting treatment?” When I told her she immediately said she could tell the difference and just didn’t know why I had changed! That is what I hope people will see from me; that you don’t have to suffer. It is not your destiny to not get well. You can get help and can be happy again. When I was in my darkest times, I never thought I’d be where I am today! (And I think many who knew me didn’t think so either!) I want others to realize…that it is possible! I know I certainly did not think it was. But I was one of the lucky ones.
Next came the fundraising. I sent out a letter of my story to literally almost everyone I knew (and emailed my fundraising page to everyone else). At first I thought I was never going to make it to $1,000! I remember crying to my mom about it one night. Well, boy was I wrong. I personally raised more than $5,000 that first year! I was shocked! Of course, a lot of it was from family who were donating in memory of Tommy, but I think many people were so touched by my honesty in sharing my story.
This walk had given me some peace and some closure to the loss of my dear cousin and to my own struggles. I will never be over losing Tommy and I will never be the same person. But this walk has given me some meaning to it all. I am the type of person who needs to find the good out of everything. And trust me; I thought there would be nothing good to come out of losing my cousin. But at least maybe we are changing some lives and saving some others from living with the pain of a mental illness. Hopefully we have created dialogue between friends and families. Maybe some people are now more open to mental illness and are not so judgmental making it easier for loved ones to come forward to get help.
Now we are walking with so many of Tommy’s close friends and it is such a beautiful tribute to the kind of friend Tommy was. My mom crews each year and her cousin and my brother have joined her. It is great to see familiar faces on the route! Tommy’s brother walks with us as well as other friends who are so supportive of the cause. This year is very special to us. My Aunt RoseMary, Tommy and family are from right outside of Boston. We are expecting a large team of walkers and crew this year and an even bigger send off at the opening ceremonies! A far cry from not having anyone to walk with!
Thank you to everyone who has helped and supported the Tommy Fuss Team in any way. And thank you to Aunt RoseMary and the Tommy Fuss Team for helping my dreams come true. Having this team behind me means more to me than you will ever know! Tommy must be so proud! See you in Boston!!!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
"If I had to sum up what these Walks mean to me, it would be..."
"These Walks have allowed us to improve the life of others which has contributed greatly to helping us put some of the shattered pieces back to together in our own lives and brings enormous healing one day at a time. Additionally, we just want to say that anytime you are showing love and compassion to others you are in fact doing what counts most during lifes journey and by doing these walks it allows us to light a candle so others can walk Out of the darkness. This means more to us that you will ever know. Thank-you."
Raymond and his wife, Mary Anne, have participated in every single Overnight Walk since the first one in Washington, DC, 2002. They are the team leaders of "Miles for the Military" and always welcome solo walkers to their team.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Shonna's Experience
Shonna Sommer walked with us in Chicago in 2009 and is returning to the Overnight for the 2010 Boston walk. Below is the newsletter she sent to all of her supporters last year to share her story and Overnight experience.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Dani's Experience
Dani Kaslow walked her first Overnight in Chicago 2009 and quickly embraced the Overnight community, leading a team and holding several training walks. Shortly after signing up to walk in Boston this summer, she emailed us the Smilebox presentation that she made after the Chicago Walk:
You can also follow Dani's Overnight journey on her personal blog: http://www.overnightwalker.com/
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| Make a Smilebox slideshow |
You can also follow Dani's Overnight journey on her personal blog: http://www.overnightwalker.com/
The Overnight Experience
The Out of the Darkness Overnight is an 18-mile journey through the night, from dusk until dawn. It's a unique opportunity to bring the issues of depression and suicide into the light as we walk together to turn heartbreak into hope for tomorrow.
We will begin at approximately 7:00 pm on Saturday evening with a short, reflective and motivating Opening Ceremony framed by the setting sun. As the Overnight community comes together as a group for the first time, you can't help but be swept up in the excitement and anticipation as everyone prepares to start their extraordinary journey.
While remembering loved ones lost to suicide and those still suffering, we'll also acknowledge the sense of hope and determination inherent in this event and its participants. The community that took shape during your event preparations will grow and strengthen from this point on, providing inspiration for everyone involved.
After the Opening Ceremony, you'll set off on your walk with Crew members, volunteers and your friends and family there to support you. You walk at your own pace on a carefully planned and clearly marked route. You'll walk the distance that is right for you. If you get tired or need help of any kind, we have vehicles continually patrolling the route - so you can be picked up and brought to the next Rest Stop or to the Midnight Meal. There will be Rest Stops approximately every 2 miles keeping you fueled and hydrated with plenty of water, sports drink, and snacks (Port-A-Potties, too!). Medical support is also available.
Walking through the night among so many others united by a common goal will give you an entirely different perspective of Boston. Throughout the event, you'll feel safe and cared-for in a place where everyone supports each other and understands their need to be there. It's a place to cry, laugh, mourn, remember, heal, and look toward the future without forgetting the past.
Upon completing the route, everyone will gather back at the Ceremonies site on Sunday morning. Sweep vehicles will continue patrolling the route and can bring you all the way to the site of the Closing Ceremony if needed, to make sure you get there in time.
Starting at 5:00 am, the Closing Ceremony completes the event with a celebration of community and a reinforcement of your accomplishments. Imagine standing in the crowd amongst so many who have together completed this tremendous journey. Each has their own reasons, thoughts and memories, yet collectively you've all made a loud, proud statement that suicide and depression can and will be brought out of the darkness. You'll be so gratified to feel that you've been an integral part of something so important, and you've done it not only for yourself, but also for your loved ones, for survivors of suicide loss and for all those affected by suicide and depression. You'll be joined by family, friends, the media and guests who recognize the enormity the event. The feeling will stay with you long after the walk has ended.
Follow our blog to experience The Overnight through the words, photos, and videos of our participants, past and present.
Experience the Overnight Video:
We will begin at approximately 7:00 pm on Saturday evening with a short, reflective and motivating Opening Ceremony framed by the setting sun. As the Overnight community comes together as a group for the first time, you can't help but be swept up in the excitement and anticipation as everyone prepares to start their extraordinary journey.
While remembering loved ones lost to suicide and those still suffering, we'll also acknowledge the sense of hope and determination inherent in this event and its participants. The community that took shape during your event preparations will grow and strengthen from this point on, providing inspiration for everyone involved.
After the Opening Ceremony, you'll set off on your walk with Crew members, volunteers and your friends and family there to support you. You walk at your own pace on a carefully planned and clearly marked route. You'll walk the distance that is right for you. If you get tired or need help of any kind, we have vehicles continually patrolling the route - so you can be picked up and brought to the next Rest Stop or to the Midnight Meal. There will be Rest Stops approximately every 2 miles keeping you fueled and hydrated with plenty of water, sports drink, and snacks (Port-A-Potties, too!). Medical support is also available.
Walking through the night among so many others united by a common goal will give you an entirely different perspective of Boston. Throughout the event, you'll feel safe and cared-for in a place where everyone supports each other and understands their need to be there. It's a place to cry, laugh, mourn, remember, heal, and look toward the future without forgetting the past.
Upon completing the route, everyone will gather back at the Ceremonies site on Sunday morning. Sweep vehicles will continue patrolling the route and can bring you all the way to the site of the Closing Ceremony if needed, to make sure you get there in time.
Starting at 5:00 am, the Closing Ceremony completes the event with a celebration of community and a reinforcement of your accomplishments. Imagine standing in the crowd amongst so many who have together completed this tremendous journey. Each has their own reasons, thoughts and memories, yet collectively you've all made a loud, proud statement that suicide and depression can and will be brought out of the darkness. You'll be so gratified to feel that you've been an integral part of something so important, and you've done it not only for yourself, but also for your loved ones, for survivors of suicide loss and for all those affected by suicide and depression. You'll be joined by family, friends, the media and guests who recognize the enormity the event. The feeling will stay with you long after the walk has ended.
Follow our blog to experience The Overnight through the words, photos, and videos of our participants, past and present.
Experience the Overnight Video:
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