Taking steps toward suicide prevention

The cloudless sky and beautiful autumn weather belied the reason that 30 or so people were gathered outside Oceanside High School on Oct. 6: to help raise awareness for suicide prevention by sending off George Wenk, who was leading a walking relay team from the steps of OHS to the steps of Manchester High School in Connecticut, 150 miles away.

Wenk’s relay was the first of its kind, connecting two Out of the Darkness walks hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention — one on Oct. 4 at the Old Westbury Gardens, in which Wenk took part, and a second on Saturday at Wickham Park in Manchester, in which, if he is still on his feet, Wenk also plans to walk in. The relay bridging the two events was scheduled to last 10 days, from Oct. 6 to 15, with the participating teams walking 15 miles a day.

A personal tragedy is fueling Wenk, a long time Oceanside resident and owner of Oceanside Plumbing and Heating on Merle Avenue: His son, George Wenk III, committed suicide in April at age 30. He left behind his wife of 2 1/2 years, Michelle, and a 1-year-old daughter named Avery. His grieving father has since founded an organization called Journey for Life and raised nearly $10,000 that he will donate to the AFSP.

The idea for the walk came to Wenk after Michelle found out about the Manchester AFSP walk. She and George III lived close by. And Saturday would have been George's 31st birthday.

"Some of you may remember my son George, and his three sisters," Wenk said, standing in front of OHS last Tuesday. All four of Wenk's children went through the Oceanside school system, which is why he decided to start his relay at the high school. "My children left this very building prepared to tackle the next phase in learning," he said. "Oceanside schools have served my family well."

Wenk spoke after OHS Principal Mark Secaur welcomed everyone, and then Board of Education Vice President Bob Transom also address the small crowd. "It's a great day for a long – a very long – walk," Transom said. He read a version of the Runner’s Prayer that he dedicated to Wenk and his walkers, and then concluded, "George, please know that your hometown of Oceanside is with you."