Out of the Darkness Community Walk Raises $52,000 for Suicide Prevention

TRIAD Inc. Team Member walks to help the cause.

10.10.10 wasn’t just a fun date on the calendar but also the 5th annual Out of the Darkness walk in Columbus. TRIAD graphic designer, Danielle Neil and her team participated in the local event for the second year in a row.

An unusually hot day in October brought over 700 participants and some of their dogs to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) at Fred Beekman Park on The Ohio State University Campus. Before the walk, participants selected Honor Beads to wear symbolizing their reason for walking – losing a child, spouse or partner, parent, sibling, relative or friend, or to recognize their personal struggle with mental illness. Participants were also asked to write on a large board why they were walking and who they were walking for.

Every 15 minutes someone in the U.S. dies by suicide. This fall thousands across the country are participating in community walks to raise money for prevention and awareness. AFSP and the community walk events offer hope to the millions of Americans who have lost a loved one to suicide or who battle personally with depression and other mental illnesses. Walkers in this year’s the Columbus event helped to raise over $52,000 that will be used to educate and help erase the stigma surrounding suicide. “When you add everyone’s efforts together the results are huge”, Neil said. “The money raised and the support for people who are suffering make a real difference!”

In the first five years that AFSP has hosted Columbus Out of the Darkness Walks, the events have raised more than $200,000. AFSP has distributed a significant sum of money back into the Columbus community which has truly benefited the cause to raise awareness about suicide prevention.