Eric Erickson performs an original song at the “Out of the Darkness” suicide awareness fundraiser at the Coffee House at Chestnut and Pine Saturday. (Photo by Jennifer Eisenbart)
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
As Jessica Borkowski explains, people talk about diabetes.
They seek treatment for cancer.
When their physical health is in question, they go to the doctor.
But when it comes to mental health – and in particular, depression and thoughts of suicide – many stay silent.
Borkowski, the board chairwoman for the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, got plenty of support to make her point Saturday night. With local musicians on hand, a benefit concert at the Coffee House at Chestnut and Pine in Burlington for the organization’s “Out of the Darkness” event raised more than $500.
Borkowski is the daughter of Tim Mocarski – a former Burlington High School English teacher who has been involved with writing and performing music over southeast Wisconsin for many years.
Both have been touched by suicide. Borkowski and her brother lost a friend, and a cousin. Mocarski lost a student.
“The more and more I started volunteering with AFSP, the more aware I became,” Borkowski said.
She first joined an “Out of the Darkness” overnight walk in Washington D.C. in 2002.
“I walked 26 miles all night long and raised more than $1,000,” she explained.
And as her enthusiasm grew, so did the circle of friends they included. One of them, Cheryl Janda, lost her brother to suicide in 2007.
The next year, she and her family joined in a walk in the Chicago area.
“It’s not something that any of us every expected,” Janda said. “That phone call, it’s not something you expect to hear.
“If any of this helps even one person, it’s worth it.”
The first “Out of the Darkness” walk in Chicago drew 17 people. The one last week in Chicago – which Janda participated in – drew more than 5,000.
Borkowski has organized the first Milwaukee walk, and Saturday night’s concert was a way to supplement the money raised.
Local musicians Terry Murphy and Greg Milo sold CDs for donations to the cause, while numerous musicians sang a variety of music from about 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The crowd filled a large part of the Coffee House for the majority of that time, which pleased Mocarski.
“I thought it went very well,” he said. “Yes, I wish we could have raised more money, but with my online donations, I am now well over $1,000 with still some (time) until the Out of Darkness Walk in Milwaukee.”
Mocarski said he couldn’t think of a better place to hold the fundraiser. After his wife died, he began making the rounds of local “open mic” events, including the one at the Coffee House.
“The people at the Coffee House just give off the air of love and warmth every time you walk into that place,” Mocarski said. “I just knew it was the right place to hold the event.”
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