Gray, windy weather didn’t stop hundreds of students and supporters from joining PROMES and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) on Saturday morning for the fifth annual Out of the Darkness Walk, a fundraiser for suicide and depression research, education and outreach.
PROMES Director Kathy Zerda set the fundraising goal at $10K, but as of Monday morning, the fundraising total topped over $20K. Donations will continue to be accepted through June 30.
According to the AFSP, someone in the United States takes their own life every 13.7 minutes. In Texas, suicide is the second-most leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds. Every year, over 38,000 people take their own lives – enough to fill the Toyota Center twice.
Check out the pictures from this year’s walk here.