In celebration of the growing international movement known as Death Cafe, San Diegans are invited to attend one or more “lively conversations about death” to be held throughout the county during San Diego’s Death Cafe Marathon Month. Over twelve hosts will provide six May Death Cafes across San Diego County. The mission of the Death Cafe experience is to increase awareness of death, while helping people make the most of their finite lives. Death Cafe is a non-profit international movement founded by Englishman Jon Underwood in 2010 to bring people together to talk about death in an open, neutral and confidential space. Death Cafe came to San Diego five years ago. Death Cafe is neither a therapy nor a grief group -- it was created under the premise that many people would like an opportunity to discuss death, but don’t feel comfortable doing so with family or friends. The events are open to everyone 18 years of age and older. They are offered with no intention of leading participants toward any conclusion, product or course of action and there is no cost for attending or participating in a Death Cafe. The San Diego Death Cafe Marathon is in celebration of the five year anniversary of the first Death Cafe held in San Diego, which took place May 13, 2013 and was hosted by Karen Van Dyke, a long time San Diego resident and Certified Senior Advisor. Van Dyke continued to host the Death Cafe monthly and says there are now 26 hosts holding Death Cafes all over the county. Van Dyke shares, “Everyone needs a Death Cafe or two at some point in their lives. I know for me in the five years that I’ve been doing them, it’s changed my outlook on death and therefore my life is lived in a much fuller way. It’s about living!” She adds, “Cafes never involve agendas, advertising or set conclusions. Interesting conversations are guaranteed!”