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Madison A. Losell, of South Williamsport, lost a dear friend at the age of 14 to suicide.
From that time on, Losell said she wanted to do something about this tragic and preventable loss of life, which is often the result of mental illness.
Losell said she spoke first to a teacher about organizing a suicide prevention awareness walk, but the idea was deemed near-impossible.
Undeterred, Losell started the suicide walk as her senior project in 2017.
Recently, Losell organized and led the fifth such walk.
It was held at the serene South Williamsport Community Park Complex on its pathway one April afternoon.
In all, Losell helped to raise close to $2,800 for the Northcentral Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, known as NAMI.
Through a minimum $5 donation, the event's participants walked around the community complex.
"It was not like a 5K," Losell said.
Losell also organized a basket raffle using donations from various businesses.
She recently presented the funds she raised to representatives of NAMI -- Kelly Gordon, president, and chapter member Barry Rake.
Gordon and Rake described Losell as a wonderful young woman with a kind heart and a commitment to suicide prevention and awareness.
Gordon said donations from the walk will be used toward the creation of signs that will be distributed in local businesses that have a suicide prevention hotline on them and other outreach efforts with businesses, churches and organizations.
Losell studied criminal justice and psychology at Lycoming College and recent accepted a position at Adelphi in Latrobe while she will continue to seek her master's degree at St. Vincent University.
Gordon said the NAMI chapter, wanted to wish her well on her career but also to remain in touch with Losell, who has been instrumental each year in organizing the suicide awareness walks.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put added pressure on people, as seen by a recent report from school superintendents about mental illness costs rising by 40 percent since the pandemic.
NAMI continues to fight to give people hurting and in need of emotional support the help they need.