Hundreds of people came out to Saratoga State Park Sunday morning at the Capital Region Out of the Darkness Walk to help raise awareness for suicide prevention. 

Bailey Field was just 19 years old when she took her own life. In the note she left behind, she said to never forget her. And that’s exactly what her sister Samantha pledged to do from that point on.

What You Need To Know

  • Over 1,000 participants came to the Capital Region Out of the Darkness Walk

  • Bailey’s Fight had over 200 team members at the walk

  • Proceeds for the event go to suicide prevention resources

“After my sister lost her fight, I realized it is now my job to keep her memory alive, and help somebody else who is on the same path as she was,” Field said.

Sunday, Samantha and her family attended their first Capital Region Out of the Darkness Walk.

It’s an event that invites teams across the region to come an honor their lost loved ones and bring awareness to suicide prevention.

Baileys Fight, led by Samantha, brought a team of well over 200 supporters.

“Everything that we do in honor of her, our whole town supports, and it’s so amazing,” Field said. “I couldn’t ask for better friends or family.”

At just 17 years old, Samantha organized the team herself. She wanted to be the leading voice for this moment.

“You know Samantha has gained the strength this year that I didn’t know she had,” Suzanne Field said.

Paul and Suzanne Field say they know their daughter will be remembered because of turnouts like today.

“The one saying is you’re not alone,” Paul Field said. “Bailey thought she was, but she wasn’t, a thousand people showed up. There’s always help. There’s always help. Reach out.”

As teams set out on the walk around Saratoga National Historical Park, Samantha says it was clear her sister and other lost loved ones had a lot of support behind them.​

“It’s kind of crazy, because I didn’t think any of this would ever happen,” Field said. “Just seeing the support that everyone has, even for the other families, is amazing.”

She knows Bailey is watching, and proud of what her little sister is doing.

“She’s probably up there crying right now, probably laughing at us because we are all crying,” Field said.

The number for the suicide hotline is 800-273-8255.