Early in the morning on April 12, students and faculty gathered in front of Maryland Hall for the first ever Out Of The Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk in collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The walk spanned under 1.5 miles and crossed both sides of campus as attendees carried signs and wore bead necklaces in memory of people lost to suicide or someone currently struggling.
As of April 14, the event raised $12,732, beating the original goal of $10,000 in just one month. This was achieved in part by top fundraiser, Dr. David Gordon, who raised $1,295.
“My goal was not to be the top fundraiser. I just saw a cause which I feel is very important, and made a donation, and asked my friends, family, and members of the department to support. I did not realize the outpouring of support would be so strong,” Gordon said.
Gordon also mentioned how there is a stigma around the topic, which makes those affected by it feel isolated and as if they have to carry the full weight of it themselves.
“I also hope that people suffering from depression and considering taking their own life will recognize that there is hope, and they should not be afraid to reach out to organizations like the AFSP,” Gordon said.
Ceci Oliver ‘26 and Kate Moroney ‘26, the lead organizers of the event, began planning in November 2025, but the event came together just a month ago. They were surprised by the immense support they received.
“This was our first event. I expected we might reach only about one-third of our final total. Our outreach efforts, both on and off campus, played a significant role in that success,” Moroney said.
Moroney also expressed the importance of having events like this on campus to increase the visibility of mental health conversations and awareness, which was echoed by the event’s speakers.
She also detailed what the money they raised would be going toward, with contributions from over 140 participants with 19 different teams and 290 total donations, all of which went directly to the AFSP.
“The organization allocates these contributions access four key areas: funding suicide prevention research, developing educational programs, advocating for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss,” Moroney said.
In 2023, 12.8 million Americans reported having suicidal thoughts while 1.5 million attempted suicide, 49,316 of which died, making it the 11th leading cause of death in the nation. On average, three college students die everyday from suicide.
Josie Rider ‘28, who volunteered at the walk over the weekend, was thankful that the event was held to strengthen the culture and community on Loyola’s campus.
“The solidarity created at the AFSP walk really did show students that other students have similar life experiences and that no one is truly alone in their mental health journey,” Rider said.
Rider also touched on the importance of hosting events like this on campus to the broader community.
“This ability for Loyola to allow students to vocalize their passions and engage peers in advocacy will always be one of the reasons why I love this campus and continue to engage with the community,” Rider said.
If you’d like to donate to Loyola’s Out of The Darkness Walk or find out more: https://afspwalks.donordrive.com/loyola
If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis, Dial 988 for emergency support
To learn more about resources on campus please visit the counseling center website or find students with a green bandana on their bags.