WALK FOR D.E.S. is one of many ways to:

• Honor the life of someone who died by suicide.
• Show support to survivors of suicide.
• Forward the cause of suicide awareness and prevention across Lancaster County and
• Provide resources and tools aimed at preventing suicide.

Why we are walking:

Every 14.2 minutes someone in the United States dies by suicide.  Nearly one million people make a suicide attempt every year.  In Lancaster County, approximately 40 individuals take their lives by suicide each year. Beyond the numbers, the ripple effect of suicide is staggering when viewed in the context of pain, loss and suffering to those who are left behind.

Help us lift the stigma that surrounds suicide and mental illness. Help us save lives and restore hope through awareness, prevention, and intervention.

Mark & Danielle’s Story (Organizers):

A little over a year ago, Mark Schantzer lost his 21 year old son to suicide. There were no signs, no warnings, and no answers. Nothing prepared him for this tragedy. Desmond’s death rocked the very core of his family’s existence and the pain they have known is beyond comprehension.  

Sitting in grief is debilitating; working through grief is healing. This is the reason Mark and his daughter Danielle joined with community partners to organize the Walk for D.E.S.

Their goal is to raise much needed funding to support the work of dedicated organizations that are committed to raising awareness about suicide, working to prevent these tragedies, and providing grief counseling and support when heartbreak occurs.

What can you do to support this effort and bring awareness

to an issue that remains hidden until it’s too late?

Join us…by becoming a sponsor, a walker, or making a donation.

Mark and Danielle are working with Mental Health America of Lancaster County (MHALC) to fund activities supporting community-wide suicide awareness and prevention activities and to provide monetary support for individuals and families impacted by suicide.

Partnering organizations dedicated to this walk and also working to advance suicide awareness and prevention across Lancaster County include:

Pathways Center for Grief & Loss (Hospice), aevidum, Survivors of Suicide (Lancaster Chapter), and CONTACT Lancaster.

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