‘Lexi’s Beach Bash’ is a memorial to teen

Family and friends of Alexis Pilkington, a West Islip teen who committed suicide last year, are hoping to keep her memory alive and continue raising awareness about her fate through a fundraiser.

The second “Lexi’s Beach Bash” will be held on Aug. 21 at Cedar Beach in Babylon and feature live music, food and social service providers. It is scheduled for 3 to 8 p.m. under a beach pavilion near Ocean Parkway.

“People are touched by her story,” said Alexis Pilkington’s mother, Paula Pilkington. “Forever, suicide has been taboo. If we do talk about it, it won’t cause someone else to do it. It will make people say ‘Hey, people need help.’ ”

The event is free. Money will be raised through the sale of raffle tickets and donations. Proceeds will go toward the Alexis Pilkington Memorial Foundation, which works to raise awareness about suicide, suicide prevention and cyberbullying and to raise money for educational programs and scholarship programs aimed at students on Long Island.

Proceeds also will go to organizations including The Long Island Crisis Center, Family Service League and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

More information is available at alexispilkingtonmemorialfoundation.org or by email to giveeverythingbutup@yahoo.com.

Alexis Pilkington is seen in an undated photo released by family friend Michael Stracuzza.