OXFORD – Danielle Marshman Williamson knows firsthand what it’s like to lose a loved one by their own hand. Her father Dan Marshman, a respected community and agricultural leader, committed suicide ten years ago. As a part of her own healing in the wake of his death, she has become dedicated to supporting the efforts of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which strives to prevent suicide through education and awareness about depression and other mood disorders.
“There really is a lack of education about depression and suicide in the United States,” said Williamson, who explained that someone takes their own life every 16 minutes in the U.S. and suicide is now the third leading cause of death for teens and young adults. Every life saved is a family who never has to go through the tragic loss she has endured.
Last year, Williamson went to great lengths for the cause – literally. She was one of some 3,000 people to participate in AFSP’s Out of the Darkness Overnight, an 18-mile dusk ‘til dawn walk in Boston to raise money for suicide prevention and awareness. She herself raised approximately $8,000 for the cause.
This year, the event will be held in New York City, and Williamson plans to be there again. And she won’t be alone. She will be joined by ten other area residents whose lives have been touched by suicide. Together they will walk as Team Chenango, honor of all those who have lost a friend or family member to suicide and in the hopes of saving someone else from having to endure a similar tragedy.
In order to participate in the event, Williamson and her teammates must raise $10,000. To help reach their fundraising goal, they will hold a captain and crew golf tournament on Sunday, May 1 at Blue Stone Golf Course in Oxford.
Williamson, who admits she’s not a golfer, praised Blue Stone for both their willingness to host the event and their help in organizing the tournament.
“They’ve been wonderful,” the team captain said.
Registration will begin at noon on the day of the event, with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The cost to participate is $55 per golfer, $35 for Blue Stone members. The registration fee includes greens fees, cart rental and lunch, which will be served from noon to 1 p.m.
“The day will also include a putting contest, a time and talent auction and 50/50 raffles,” Williamson said, as well as prizes for closest to the pin and longest drive.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
“We’re still looking for hole sponsors and product donations for goodie bags,” she reported. Hole sponsorships are $50.
The team is also rounding up donors for the time and talent auction. As the name implies, they are asking people to donate either their time or skills to the cause. Some of the items they have for the auction include a day of fishing with David Emerson, a plane ride with local pilot John Weidman, a cake by Holly Finch and a dinner party hosted by Tom and Bonnie Emerson and Bill and Diane Troxell. Oxford Middle School student Jesse Gates has even volunteered to mow someone’s lawn for the cause. A number of area businesses have also donated gift certificates and other prizes, including The Silo Restaurant, Celebrations Creations and New York Pizzeria.
The day will conclude with a ziti dinner, which is open to both golfers and community members for a free will donation.
“We’ll be making the ziti with Mrs. Franco’s sauce,” said Williamson, referring to former Oxford Middle School guidance counselor Sue Franco, whose spaghetti sauce is “famous” in the Oxford community. Team Chenango will be walking in honor of the Franco family and in memory of her son Scott.
Williamson, who owns Hoppie’s Ice Cream Parlor in Oxford, will be supplying the dessert. She’s tapped into her restaurant contacts to supply some of the other items and the ingredients for the ziti.
“We couldn’t be doing this without Betsey Baio from New York Pizzeria, Sue Ryan from Canasawacta Country Club, Kathie Holt from Sysco, Fred’s Inn, the Stadium and Roma’s,” she said.
For more information, to register or become a sponsor, stop by Hoppies or contact Williamson at 843-2663 or drmarshman@yahoo.com. Teams can also register directly with Blue Stone by calling 843-8352.