Out of the Darkness Walks

Raising Funds and Awareness Through the Community, Campus and Overnight Walks

Whether it’s a fraternity or sorority member or teacher showing up to a Campus Walk, energized to let students and the school community know there’s no shame when it comes to supporting mental health and seeking help… someone who’s lost a friend, coworker, or family member, or who has their own experience of suicidal crisis joining a Community Walk… or one of the thousands of people flying across the country to walk through the night at the annual Overnight Walk… AFSP’s Walks participants are truly bringing suicide out of the darkness.

Everywhere, everyone, every dollar: the Out of the Darkness Walks are how most people first hear of and become a part of the AFSP family, engaging with their local chapter and helping to galvanize our national efforts to combat this leading cause of death and provide comfort and support to those affected. In addition to Walkers sending the message through their physical presence that suicide can no longer exist in the shadows, the funds raised through the Walks help make possible research, education and loss programs, advocacy, and more.

The Walks are a labor of love that have tremendous impact. And it isn’t just Walks participants themselves who show up.

Communities, campuses, neighbors, workplaces, sponsors, and other groups come together as people “step up” to make each of these events the inspiring and successful events they are: from Walker Coaches in AFSP’s national office guiding Overnight participants months ahead of the event to help them reach their physical and fundraising goals; to dedicated volunteers and chapter staff working together to arrange the logistics of each Walk; to the people handing out Honor Beads whose colors let Walkers signify their specific personal connection to the cause; to those cheering Walkers on along the route. The Walks are about camaraderie, raising crucial funds, and people finding comfort in their shared connection.