photo by: Contributed

Heather Fiore, right, has been helping organize events with the national group American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Lawrence. The event is now in its fifth year and will happen Saturday, April 25 at the Lawrence Rotary Arboretum, 5100 W. 27th St.

Ahead of an annual walk that supports suicide prevention efforts and awareness, a Lawrence organizer said the group has extended its reach in the community and expanded its fundraising abilities.

Organizers will host the Lawrence Area Campus Walk on Saturday, April 25 at the Lawrence Rotary Arboretum as part of a nationwide effort called Out of the Darkness Campus Walks. Heather Fiore, a Lawrence organizer, said the group is raising funds to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which she said is one of the leading funders of research efforts in the country.

Fiore said this is the fifth year the walk is happening in Lawrence, and it is set to be the biggest ever. She said the organizers have had a “lofty goal” of having 100 participants and raising $10,000 through the walk. As of Friday, 93 people have signed up and the group has raised over $6,400, and Fiore said the team is “closer than ever” for reaching its target.

One of the things Fiore said has made a difference for the fundraising efforts was having a “fully functioning committee” with people from all parts of the community to plan the event. Another big boost was getting more KU students involved in the planning this year, which Fiore said is a key focus.

Fiore said there will be other activities the morning of the walk, including poetry readings, a memorial wall — Fiore said people can add pictures of loved ones lost to suicide or write notes of hope, and those items are put up each year — and a raffle featuring prizes from local businesses like Cottin’s Hardware and Nostalgia Room.

While Fiore stressed the fundraising piece is critical, these events can also serve as a way to support people impacted by the loss of a friend to suicide. Fiore said obviously any death has a sense of loss, but people who lose loved ones to suicide often feel a sense of guilt and shame, which adds “more to the grief.” These types of events bring together a community of people who understand those same complicated feelings, and Fiore said that support is one reason why these events are important.

“I want to prevent suicides, but I also want to support folks who have already been affected by it,” Fiore said.

The Lawrence Area Campus Walk will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Lawrence Rotary Arboretum, 5100 W. 27th St. Fiore said the event will have same day registration, with organizers arriving at the arboretum at 10 a.m. For information about registering for the event or to donate, you can visit http://www.afsp.org/lawrenceks.

photo by: Contributed

Messages of hope that were posted during last year’s Lawrence Area Campus Walk, which fundraises for suicide prevention efforts.

photo by: Contributed

Participants gather at the start of last year’s Lawrence Area Campus Walk. This year’s event is Saturday, April 25, 2026.