Cache County Events Center, file photo.
LOGAN — Up to last year, Margaret Gittins was mostly known as a local woman who made and sold great caramel apples, but on a whim, the Cache County employee reached out to Utah and international entertainer Alex Boye about the possibility of being the headliner at an event to raise suicide awareness.
Boye, who has already focused his career on suicide prevention, jumped at the chance last year. And he’s back for a 2nd Ignite the Light Suicide Awareness event to be held Monday night at the Cache County Events Center (490 South 500 West) in Logan.
On KVNU’s For the People program, Gittins said she is encouraged by the support from local residents.
“It’s really amazing to know that we’re doing this again, and that’s there’s so much support from the community, and the knowledge of how needed and wanted it is to have something on a positive note happening as a result of such an ugly word,” she explained.
The evening begins at 5p.m. with an appreciation for First Responders, who often find themselves being the first on scene of a suicide.
There will be educational and resource booths, vendors and food trucks, then the concert with Boye at 7p.m. Gittins hopes the event will continue to encourage dialogue about a difficult topic.
“It’s been such a taboo subject that we don’t talk about, and that we don’t voice verbally, our feelings about it, especially if it’s not our own issue. And it’s somewhere that people can come together to realize how many people have such a strong emotion and want to help, (also)raise awareness or just know that they are loved and other people around them feel the same way.”
Those interested can make a donation, as well, that helps make the night possible. Find out more at CacheCounty.org/ignitethelight.