The coordinator of this year's annual Walk in Memory, Walk for Hope said its success is never judged on numbers of participants.
"If you only get one person out you've succeeded," said Cherie Johnson, who is also Sundre's Family and Community Support Services worker.
Held on World Suicide Prevention Day, the gathering is intended to encourage conversation about suicide prevention, provide information and hope and foster prevention through wellness.
The theme for this year's Sept. 10 event was Take a Minute & Change a Life.
About 30 people gathered at Sundre Elks Lodge for a conference featuring guest speaker Brian Pickering.
The Alberta Mental Health grief counsellor discussed methods to help people manage the sorrow that can stem from life's unpredictable curveballs.
As in the event's inaugural year five years ago, a member of the Carrier family spoke about the loss of their son Stephen to suicide.
The 19-year-old Sundre resident took his life in January of 2013.
After this year's speakers and observance of a wall of remembrance, participants embarked on a walk around town, carrying signs with messages and names of those they were walking in remembrance of.
"We also had words of hope and encouragement on signs we placed along the route," said Johnson.
Upon their return to the Sundre Elks Lodge, participants had lunch and a balloon release to conclude the day's events.
While it is too early to say what plans are for next year, Johnson said the committee that organizes the event is very passionate about offering support in the prevention of suicide.
After forming in February of 2012, members of Call to Action held a forum where people in the community expressed their concerns about the increasing number of suicides in town.
Walk in Memory, Walk for Hope was one of the initiatives born out of the meetings that followed.
