‘Out of the Darkness Campus Walk’ at UW May 3

Registrations are now being accepted for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) “Out of the Darkness Campus Walk,” scheduled Saturday, May 3, at the University of Wyoming.

UW’s local fundraiser for the AFSP will begin in the UW College of Education’s gymnasium beginning at 11 a.m. with check-in and registration. An opening ceremony begins at noon, with the actual 1.5-mile campus walk starting at 12:30 p.m. Available will be resource and information tables; T-shirt pickup; a memory board; a silent auction; honor beads, hope rocks and selfie stations; refreshments; and conversations and connections.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in Wyoming among ages 10-34 -- and it is preventable, according to the AFSP, which leads the fight against suicide. Money raised from “Out of the Darkness Campus Walks” nationwide is used to finance research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy and support survivors of suicide loss.

“We hope to have more walk teams from UW colleges, departments, clubs and activity groups participate in the campus walk,” says Margaret Hudson, UW’s “Out of the Darkness Walk” chair and a School of Counseling, Leadership, Advocacy and Design assistant professor in the UW College of Education.

To register as an individual or as a team, or to make a donation, go to UW’s event website at www.afsp.org/uwyo.

Volunteers can contribute by serving on the campus walk planning committee or by helping on the day of the event. The UW community also can donate to the silent auction, an individual walker or a team. UW’s goal is to raise $10,000 for the AFSP.

For more information about this year’s walk or to follow the event’s statistics, go to the “Out of the Darkness Campus Walk” homepage.

For more information, email Hudson at mhudson@uwyo.edu.

About the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Established in 1987, AFSP is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. AFSP is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss.

AFSP engages in the following core strategies: funding scientific research; educating the public about mental health and suicide prevention; advocating for public policies in mental health and suicide prevention; and supporting survivors of suicide loss and those affected by suicide. AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, with programs and events nationwide.