MUNSTER | For the first time, an Out of the Darkness Community Walk will take place in Munster. The event, which raises money for suicide prevention and awareness, is set for Sept. 13 at Centennial Park.

Two of the walk's biggest supporters are Barbara Smich and Nancy Rodgers, who lost their sons to suicide.

Smich's team, Shoeless Mike, has about 20 members thus far. The name came about because her son, Mike, was known for performing in bare feet with his band.

Mike, who lived in the Chesterton-Porter area, was 33 when he took his life. He had no history of mental illness.

"I just want to stop this terrible, terrible disease from affecting someone else," Smich said. "I just feel like awareness and education have to go out to every school in this country because it's an epidemic."

The Valparaiso resident said she's read about too many young kids committing suicide in seventh and eighth grade.

Rodgers, of Schererville, agrees suicide prevention needs to be talked about in schools at an early age.

"What we really want to do is to put something into the school system, not wait until the college level," she said. "We want to try to help children because this is where they start going through their problems."

She added that families often don't know what resources are available. "It's something so many people are afraid to talk about."

Half of the walk's proceeds will go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention while the rest can be used in the community however the local board decides.

Rodgers became involved in December when she read about at the foundation while doing some Internet research. Her son, John Laskowski, committed suicide July 11, 2006. She remembered that a co-workers had walked in her son's name.

Rodgers' team for the Munster walk, Johnny's Crew, has 34 members thus far.

Although her son was receiving treatment, Rodgers didn't realize the resources available.

"It's hard for families to know how to help their loved ones and how to cope with it themselves," she said. "It's hard to understand when someone has mental illness and it starts to wear on them and the whole family. Once you know more, it's easier to cope with it and understand it and give the person the proper help."

Rodgers decided to put on a walk in her own community and realized Centennial Park was perfect. "It's a three-mile walk around a beautiful lake," she said.

After the walk, lunch will be provided to volunteers and walkers, and a ceremony to remember victims will be held, followed by a balloon release.

Individuals may join existing teams or to form one of their own to generate pledges. The goal is to have 300 walkers. Organizers also seek businesses and organizations to get involved. "We're hoping that businesses can support it and get the word out there for us," Smich said.

Her team already has a head start. Chesterton residents put together a benefit in June that raised more than $6,000.

Rodgers is committed to the project. "If I could even save one person's life by helping with this and doing this walk, then I've achieved my goal," she said.