Fifth annual Out of the Darkness Walk held at CCU March 23

Coastal Carolina University held the fifth annual Out of the Darkness Walk to raise emotional health awareness and to fight suicide on Saturday, March 23, at 11 a.m. in Spadoni Park on campus. The walk raised nearly $11,000.

The walk is sponsored by the LiveWell Office, Students Helping Others Reach Excellence (SHORE) Peer Educators and CCU Counseling Services. It aims to support survivors of suicide, those who have lost loved ones and those who are struggling with emotional health issues.

“It’s very important for students to feel comfortable talking about their emotional health and wellness in order to continue to break the stigma that has historically come with this topic,” said Chris Donevant-Haines, the assistant director of wellness outreach at CCU.

Over the past four years, the walk has raised more than $35,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Last year, the walk won the National Award from the Student Affairs Administrators of Higher Education and raised more than $17,000. This year, the total fundraising goal is $15,000. Funds are raised through a combination of online registration for the walk, donations and shirt sales.

Donations are accepted through the month of May. Donations can be made on the walk’s page at afsp.donordrive.com.