By John Leonard ’25
On Sunday, October 27, members of the Chaminade Family came together to participate in the American Society for the Prevention of Suicide’s Out of the Darkness Community Walk at Jones Beach. Here students and faculty, along with their families, walked for approximately four miles along the boardwalk to show solidarity with those who have suffered the loss of a loved one from suicide and with those struggling with a mental illness. This is the second year Chaminade has participated in the event.
The American Society for the Prevention of Suicide (AFSP) hosts walks like the one at Jones Beach across the country as fundraisers. The organization provides support to those who have experienced a loss from suicide or are struggling in a way that affects their mental well-being. At the time of writing, walkers raised approximately $500,000 for the AFSP.
Alumnus and student co-founder of the Friends of St. Dymphna, Nick Russo ’23, came to Jones Beach to walk with his Chaminade Family. The Friends of St. Dymphna is Chaminade’s mental health awareness group, named after the patron saint of those dealing with stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues. In addition to organizing Chaminade’s participation in the walk, the Friends of St. Dymphna plans board game nights, sponsors paint-by-number events, and hosts guest speakers who specialize in mental health wellness.
Patrick Kimmins ’25 is on the leadership team of the Friends of St. Dymphna. When asked about his involvement in Sunday’s walk, he stated, “I have so many friends and family members that have struggled and continue to struggle with their own mental health, so I felt I should participate on the walk as a way to share my support. As someone who had difficulties with my mental health in the past, I felt the walk was very important because it allowed me to reflect on how much progress I’ve made since then.”
Ms. Hafner, one of the club’s faculty moderators, said, “This walk is a powerful one. There is no judgment here, only empathy and support. It is quite eye-opening, really, to see how many people come together to mourn losses to suicide or to celebrate personal victories with their own mental health issues. I look forward to increasing our [school’s] presence at these walks in the future because it is important to let people know that they are not alone.”
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