Manhattan sunrise. Wikimedia commons.

Support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention by circumnavigating Manhattan with HarborLAB from sunset to sunrise this summer Solstice weekend! We’ll launch at sunset June 22 and return by sunrise June 23. This is a “give what you can” fundraiser and awareness builder. Please be generous — all funds go directly to the Foundation.

For this HarborLAB event to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, make checks or money orders (tax deductible) to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Much like the Foundation’s “Out of the Darkness” walks, the symbolism of HarborLAB’s paddle is that we can help each other through dark times into the sunrise of renewed hope. We take inspiration from the optimistic song from The Beatles, “Here Comes the Sun.”

.

.

We’ll launch from Anable Basin Bar and Grill (alcohol is forbidden before and during the paddle), directly into a panorama of the UN, Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, and the colorfully illuminated Bank of America Building. The flood tide current will ferry us, along with our own paddling, past the Blackwell Lighthouse and East River islands into the dark and quiet bends of the Harlem River. At Swindlers Cove we’ll enjoy our first rest stop. We’ll pass Manhattan’s last primeval forest at Inwood, into the broad sweep of the fabled Hudson River facing the majestic Palisades. The ebb current will boost out paddling past another view of the skyline and the exciting USS Intrepid! Along the Hudson waterfront we’ll take another brief rest or two. Then we’ll spy the Statue of Liberty as we round The Battery and catch the new flood tide current up the East River. We might take a last break, and coast into Long Island City again for a celebratory breakfast.

Register by both joining on Facebook, *and* emailing tours@harborlab.org with the subject line “Sun Voyage.” Seating is limited. Participants should be mildly athletic, work well within groups, comfortable on and in the water (we don’t plan to swim, but you should know how), willing to follow our volunteers’ instructions, and prompt. Our boats are tandem sit-on-top Malibu 2 XLs from Ocean Kayak. These are easy and safe to use, but a wet ride. Please avoid cotton and wool, favoring nylon, Lycra, or other such fast-drying material. You might even rent a light wetsuit.

Participants will receive more detailed instructions by email. We strongly encourage participants to ask their friends, relatives, and business associates to also donate to the Foundation.

Suicide claims the lives of veterans who return home with invisible wounds. Suicide claims the lives of LGBT youths who need loving support from their families and an equal welcome in their schools and neighborhoods. Suicide claims the lives of people who see no hope of working their way up from poverty and debt. Suicide claims the lives of those who silently suffer abuse. Suicide claims the lives of those who have much to give, but are strained to breaking by depression.

We can help the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to protect these lives. Where there was despair, there can be flourishing.