A STRONG crowd of up to 200 people attended the Whitsunday VMR on Saturday afternoon to take part in the 'Out of the Shadow and into the Light' suicide awareness and prevention walk to Cannonvale Beach.

The annual Lifeline walk was organised by Proserpine teenager Keisha McEwan who was inspired to do something after losing three friends to suicide.

She joined forces with Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre, Whitsunday Crisis and Counselling and anti-bullying campaign Stand for the Silent to host the event.

In a matter of days, the walk received 70 registrations online and more than 60 RSVP's on Facebook so Ms McEwan was expecting it to be well-supported by the community but she described Saturday's attendance as overwhelming.

"It's more than any of us expected and it goes to show that it is something that was needed in the community," she said.

Ms McEwan, who is passionate about assisting youth in the area, is currently studying community services hopes to study a bachelor of social work in the near future.

Together with Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre community development officer Tamara Noble, Stand for the Silent vice-president Liz DeVries and Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre family support worker Sandra Kelly, the team hope to make the walk an annual event.

The walk was led by Whitsunday Labor candidate Bronwyn Taha and was attended by many local service and community groups as well as residents.

Whitsunday Regional Council mayor Jennifer Whitney addressed crowds post-walk and acknowledged it as Whitsunday's first suicide awareness and prevention event. Musicians Nadine Allan, Harry Wall, Chelsea Nicol and Luke Parter entertained audiences while Men's Shed Airlie Beach hosted a sausage sizzle.

The walk received donations and support from Fairbairn Bakery, Woolworths Cannonvale, Proserpine Indigenous Reference Group, Whitsunday Transit, Sacred Body Health and Lifestyle Sanctuary, Proserpine Youth Space, Whitsunday Health Clinic, Airlie Beach Men's Shed, Stand for the Silent and Whitsunday Neighbourhood Centre.