Peter Corless

Fundraising Page for San Francisco Walk
September 27, 2008 at Crissy Field

My Friend,

I am joining thousands of people nationwide this September to walk in AFSP's 2008 Out of the Darkness Community Walk to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. This is my second walk on behalf of this organization. I appreciate any support you give me for this worthy cause.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is at the forefront of research, education and prevention initiatives designed to reduce loss of life from suicide. More than 32,000 lives are lost each year in the U.S. and over one million worldwide, the importance of AFSP's mission has never been greater, nor our work more urgent.

This past year, my longtime friend Terry Young, a fellow alumnus of Carnegie Mellon, and fellow Alpha Phi Omega member, committed suicide in Ohio. She is the second person from the Carnegie Mellon community I knew closely who committed suicide. I wrote a poem in memorium for Terry:

No Longer In Service
http://petercorless.blogspot.com/2008/08/no-longer-in-service.html

In 2006, I walked the Overnight from dusk til dawn to raise money in memorium of Molly Moriarity, who committed suicide when I was at Carnegie Mellon. She sat next to me in my illustration studio during Junior Year. She committed suicide the morning following the Beaux Arts Ball in 1985. I went to her funeral in Falls Church Virginia. I will never forget the stunned faces of her large and close-knit family. The cubby to the left of me was empty for the rest of that school year.

This year, when Terry died, I got a tear-filled call from my dear friend Jodi, who loved Terry like a sister. I was Terry's "brother" too, through my life membership in Alpha Phi Omega, the national service fraternity. So, this year, I lost my "sister" to suicide.

One thing is clear: we all have more walking to do.

Please help me save lives, so no one need lose classmates, friends, and family, like Molly or Terry.

This year, support my participation in this event. Any contribution helps the work of AFSP. Your donation is 100% tax deductible.

You can make an online donation by clicking "Support This Participant" button on this page.

Thank you!

In service to the community,

-Peter Corless.

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