Darrell Traughber admits to being a bit disappointed that the “Out of the Darkness” walk he and his daughter brought to Bowling Green seven years ago is continuing to grow.

The walk to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention started with “40 or 50” participants in its first year, Traughber said. He expects around 250 participants Saturday for the walk that starts at 10 a.m. at Ephram White Park near Warren East High School.

That growth, while a good indicator that more people are being reached with the message about suicide awareness and prevention, is also evidence that the scourge of suicide is continuing to grow, he said.

“It’s an epidemic,” said Traughber, who lost his own son to suicide in 2005. “We lost 44,000 people in this country to suicide last year. If that many people were dying of a disease, people would be up in arms and trying to do something about it.”

Traughber said suicide has been a taboo topic for years, but he thinks that is slowly changing.

“Years ago, you didn’t say the word suicide out loud,” Traughber said. “I went for quite a while before I could say that my son committed suicide. I can say it now, if it will help somebody else.

“We’re trying to remove that stigma. We need to shout about it (suicide) now.”

There may not be any shouting Saturday, but Traughber expects there to be an increase in awareness and some healing as a result of an event that includes a one-mile loop and a three-mile course around the park.

Participation is free, but donations will be accepted.

Katelyn Traughber Simpson, who put the walk together along with her father, said the event has raised more than $50,000 over the first six years. The money goes to the AFSP but is returned to the Bowling Green area in the form of pamphlets, videos and information that can help raise awareness about suicide.

“All those materials we distribute to civic organizations, schools and anybody who has an interest in the subject,” said Traughber, a local construction contractor and a magistrate who has represented District 6 on Warren County Fiscal Court for nearly eight years.

Traughber and his daughter have seen the local event grow in numbers and in sponsorships. This year, Rivendell Psychiatric Hospital, LifeSkills, the Hughes & Coleman law firm and Farmers National Bank are sponsors, with Rivendell serving as the title sponsor for a second straight year.

Rhonda Linden, Rivendell’s director of business development, said the walk fits with the hospital’s mission.

“Anytime we can raise awareness and raise funds for the AFSP, it’s a good thing,” Linden said. “The AFSP has goals in place, and the most important one is to reduce the suicide rate by 20 percent by the year 2025. We’re very interested in helping reach that goal.”

Such a reduction would be a reversal of current trends. According to the AFSP website, the suicide rate per 100,000 Americans has risen from 10.5 to 13.0 over the past 15 years.

To fight that trend, Linden said, “We want to educate people about what to do when someone you know is considering suicide. We want to equip emergency responders on how to deal with someone considering suicide.”

While getting such information out is important, both Linden and Traughber believe the walk can also be therapeutic for family members of suicide victims and possibly for people considering suicide.

“Survivors of suicide are welcome to come and remember their loved ones,” Linden said. “It can be a gathering place to share your feelings with others.”

The walk deals with a serious subject, but Traughber aims to make it an enjoyable morning with music from the Ernie Small Blues Band and plenty of opportunity to socialize.

Simply sharing his story at past walks has helped others, Traughber said.

“One young man told me that he already had his (suicide) letter written and was getting ready to kill himself,” Traughber recalled. “When he realized what suicide had done to me and Katelyn, he said he didn’t want to do that to his family.

“I feel like we’re making an impact. If we can help one family, it’s well worth it.”

More information about the AFSP and strategies for preventing suicide can be found at afsp.org.

Check-in and late registration for Saturday’s walk will begin at 8:30 a.m.