Out of the Darkness Campus Walk
Every spring, the Ohio State Suicide Prevention Program hosts an Out of the Darkness Campus Walk (OOTDCW) across the Columbus, Lima, Marion, Wooster and Mansfield campuses!
This collaborative event organized with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a journey of remembrance, hope and support and an opportunity to unite our Buckeye community – a time to acknowledge the ways in which suicide and mental illness have affected our lives and our loved ones.
Check out the 2026 event recap below! The date for the 2027 spring campus walk will be announced in November 2026.
RECAP of the 2026 OOTDCW
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Time: 6-8pm
Together, we raised over $25,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and had over 550 participants in attendance across our five campuses! Thank you to everyone who helped prevent suicide at Ohio State by captaining or joining a team, and fundraising!
Event Schedule (for all campuses)
- 4:00pm – REACH Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training (Columbus campus; training is full)
- 6:00pm – Event doors open; participant arrival; team check-in; activities and partner/resource tables
- 6:30pm – Opening remarks; walk; return for snacks, closing remarks, and continued activities
- 8:00pm – Event concludes
Columbus
- Location: 337 Annie and John Glenn Ave, Columbus, OH 43210. RPAC (Tom W. Davis Gym)
- Parking is available in the Neil Ave. and Tuttle Garages. Free parking validation stickers will be provided by CampusParc for these two garages.
- Walk Distance: Approximately 1-mile around the Oval.
- Coordinator: Laura Lewis. Email: lewis.1422@osu.edu
- Join Team Buckeye or create your own—everyone must be on a team.
- Become a certified Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper before the event! Pre-registration is now closed.
Service Animal Policy
- Only service animals allowed in Rec Sports facilities.
- Must assist a person with a disability and wear a vest at all times.
- Emotional support animals are not permitted.
- Handlers must clean up after their animals.
- Questions: recsports@osu.edu
Lima
- Location: Galvin Hall, Cloyd Commons (Lower Level). The walk route will be around the Quad (multiple laps).
- Coordinator: Samantha Haudenschield. Email: haudenschield.11@osu.edu
- Sign up to volunteer.
- Join TEAM LIMA or create your own—everyone must be on a team.
Marion
- Location: Maynard Hall, 1st Floor
- Coordinator: Leslie Beary. Email: beary.4@osu.edu
- Join Team Marion or create your own—everyone must be on a team.
Mansfield
- Location: Campus Rec Center
- Coordinator: David Miller. Email: miller.12261@osu.edu
Wooster/ATI
- Location: The Gathering Place, Halterman Hall
- Coordinator: Schaad Schaad. Email: schaad.15@osu.edu
- Join Team Wooster or create your own—everyone must be on a team.
This year, with help again from WOSU Public Media, we’ were united across all locations while walking on our individual campuses!
Watch the video story (below) published by The Lantern on our 2026 campus walk!