BAKERSFIELD -  

More than four hundred people came out to raise money and awareness for an issue impacting many people in Kern County.

‘Out of the Darkness,’ is a walk educating the community on suicide.  Organizers say there were close to one hundred suicide cases in our community last year and it’s gone up for 2012.

They hope to raise about $19,000 through the event.

This is the third year of the walk and people who registered had a loved one or knew of someone who committed suicide.

"The more people know about suicide and know the warning signs, the more we can prevent suicides.  Suicide education is how we prevent it and we have to erase the stigma and the taboo associated with suicide," said Ellen Eggert, chair of the walk.

Money raised from the event will go towards the group’s prevention programs.