On April 6, Oakland University hosted an Out of the Darkness Walk in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The walk is a student and community fundraiser designed to raise awareness of the fight to prevent suicide.
This year’s walk had 408 participants and 26 teams, raising more than $17,000.
The event began with a resource fair featuring various organizations. OU representatives were present from Graham Health Center, Grizz Recovery, Student Congress and University Recreation and Well-Being. Other organizations present included CNS Healthcare, Common Ground, Oakland Community Health Network, Root & Bloom Therapy and the Windy Willow Foundation.
There were also activities, including bracelet making, tote bag making and rock painting. The completed rocks were placed in the Hope Garden along the walk route.
Additionally, a memory tent was set up where participants could share messages of hope with the assistance of provided prompts and share photos of their loved ones.
The opening ceremony, led by AFSP Michigan Chapter Board Chair Lisa Matway and committee chair Celeste Huff, began at 1 p.m. Huff talked about her personal experiences with ASFP and what an event like this means for the community.
“By walking with us today, you honor the memory of loved ones we’ve lost. By walking with us, you’re letting everyone know who struggles that they are not alone,” Huff said during her speech.
During check-in, honor beads of different colors were passed out to show connections to the cause. Every participant received blue beads, representing suicide prevention, and could select other beads, such as green to represent a personal struggle and purple to represent the loss of a relative or friend.
Huff and Matway took turns reading statistics corresponding to each color of honor bead during the honor bead ceremony. As each color was announced, participants raised their beads in the air.
After the opening ceremony, the walk began, led by the top donating team, Kali’s Krusaders. Participants walked past Elliott Tower, along Pioneer Drive and Meadow Brook Road. Students, community members and even dogs walked past sidewalk chalk messages and volunteers holding posters with inspirational phrases.
Andrew Meeseman, a member of Kali’s Krusaders, walked alongside friends and family in honor of his sister, Kali Meeseman.
“It’s nice to have support and know that even though it’s almost been two years, everybody’s still supporting and everybody reaches out,” Meeseman said. “It’s just nice to know that no matter what, they’re always going to be there to help.”
Many walkers had personal connections, including Shelby Czerniak, a member of the planning committee and co-captain of the Undergraduate Admissions team.
“We lost a community member who had close ties to my daughter, so we are walking in honor of him today as a family,” Czerniak said. “I think it shows students, staff and faculty that no one is alone.”
Others shared similar motivations for walking, including OU student Gus Lesperance Solomonson.
“I’ve known people in my life that have had pretty intense struggles with mental health, and very fortunately, those people are still around,” Lesperance Solomonson said. “To be here and show support for people who are struggling matters a lot to me.”
Huff’s personal connection to the cause motivated her to lead the committee.
“I feel like when I was at my lowest, I found this organization and it was really helpful for me as I was grieving the loss of my dad,” Huff said. “People need to know about the resources and to know there is help available, and that even if you are struggling and you are at the lowest of your lows, there are so many people around you who support you.”
Meeseman echoed that message of hope.
“If you’re able to just try to get to tomorrow, and try to get to the next day and the day after that, things can eventually work themselves out,” Meeseman said. “There’s always love and support like you see here.”
