Illinois fundraising record to help save lives, bring hope to those affected by suicideÂ
CHICAGO, Oct. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Illinois Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), which held the three-mile Out of the Darkness Chicagoland Walk at Montrose Harbor on September 27 and also participated in Sunday's Bank of America Chicago Marathon with the AFSP Race for Hope team, have set a new record for fundraising in Illinois raising over $1.8 million in 2025 as of today.
k5:G 4=2DDlQ!#}0x>365565pDD6E#676C6?46Q :5lQs:GpDD6E!=246w@=56C`QmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>>2]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^ag_`gda^!:4EFC6`0{@8@]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk^2mk^Amk^5:Gm
kAm%96 4@>3:?65 C64@C5 2>@F?E C2:D65 :D C6>2C<23=6 4@?D:56C:?8 E92E `d J62CD 28@ E96 #246 7@C w@A6 E62> 2=@?6 925 ;FDE h CF??6CD 2?5 C2:D65 ;FDE @G6C Se[___] %96 8C@HE9 @7 E96 492C:EJ 2DA64E @7 E96 r9:428@ >2C2E9@? :? C646?E J62CD 92D ?@H >256 :E 2 D:8?2EFC6 6G6?E 7@C pu$!]k^Am
kAmQq@E9 6G6?ED 7@C E96 p>6C:42? u@F?52E:@? 7@C $F:4:56 !C6G6?E:@? :? x==:?@:D 2C6 C2:D:?8 E96 32C :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 @FC @C82?:K2E:@? ?2E:@?2==J[Q D2:5 p?86=2 rF>>:?8D[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C 7@C E96 p>6C:42? u@F?52E:@? 7@C $F:4:56 !C6G6?E:@? – x==:?@:D r92AE6C] Q(6 2C6 @G6CH96=>65 3J @FC H2=<6CDV 2?5 CF??6CDV 249:6G6>6?ED E9:D J62C 2E 3@E9 6G6?ED 2D E96J 4C62E65 DA64:2= 6IA6C:6?46D 7@C E96>D6=G6D 2?5 6249 @E96C E92E AC@G:56 962=:?8 2?5 9@A6]Qk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdbg``b\`U2>Aj9laf`fgccfaeU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauDFAA@CE:?8]27DA]@C8Tau49:428@>2C2E9@?adU2>Aj2l#246Z7@CZw@A6Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm#246 7@C w@A6k^2mk^DA2?m  CF??6CD 4@>3:?65 E96:C A2DD:@? 7@C 2E9=6E:4 AFCDF:ED H:E9 2 42FD6i E96J 2C6 A2CE @7 2 r9:428@ |2C2E9@? E62> E@ C2:D6 2H2C6?6DD @7 DF:4:56 =@DD 2?5 AC6G6?E:@?[ C6>6>36C =@G65 @?6D[ @C C67=64E @? A6CD@?2= DECF88=6D] (:E9 7F?5D C2:D65 3J CF??6C DA@?D@CD9:A 36?67:EE:?8 E96 x==:?@:D 492AE6C @7 E96 pu$![ 6249 #246 7@C w@A6 E62> >6>36C H@C6 2 4FDE@> C246 ;6CD6J E92E 762EFC6D E96 E62> =@8@ @? E96 7C@?E – 2?5 E96:C A6CD@?2= C62D@? 7@C CF??:?8 @? E96 324<] |2?J @7 E96 E62> >6>36CD 92G6 =@DE D@>6@?6 E@ DF:4:56 2?5 5:DA=2J E96:C =@G65 @?6DV A9@E@Dj @E96CD DECF88=6 H:E9 E96:C @H? >6?E2= 962=E9 @C DFAA@CE D@>6@?6 H9@ 5@6D 2?5 92G6 :?DA:C2E:@?2= :>286D @C H@C5D] %96 #246 7@C w@A6 E62> 925 >@C6 E92? adc A2CE:4:A2?ED H9@ C2:D65 >@C6 E92? Sh_f[ddd]k^Am
kAm%96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdbg``b\`U2>Aj9lafch`e_g__U2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTau27DAH2=<D]5@?@C5C:G6]4@>Taur9:428@U2>Aj2lr9:428@=2?5Z(2=<Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmr9:428@=2?5 (2=<k^2m 96=5 :? $6AE6>36C :D @?6 @7 9F?5C65D E2<:?8 A=246 :? 4:E:6D E9C@F89@FE E96 4@F?ECJ] $:?46 a__c[ E96D6 6G6?ED 8:G6 A6@A=6 E96 4@FC286 E@ @A6? FA 23@FE E96:C @H? 4@??64E:@?D E@ E96 42FD6 2?5 AC@G:56 2 A=2E7@C> E@ 4C62E6 2 4F=EFC6 E92EVD D>2CE6C 23@FE >6?E2= 962=E9] %96 6G6?E 762EFC65 2 >6?E2= 962=E9 D6CG:46D E6?E[ 65F42E:@? @FEC6249[ 2 A@H6C7F= k6>m(9J (6 (2=< (2==k^6>m E92E 9@?@CD E9@D6 =@DE E@ DF:4:56[ 2?5 9@?@C 3625D E92E D:8?:7J 9@H DF:4:56 92D E@F4965 6249 A2CE:4:A2?E] |@C6 E92? e[d__ A6@A=6 42>6 E@86E96C 7@C E96 a_ad (2=<[ C2:D:?8 >@C6 E92? Sgfa[bf` H:E9 >@C6 E92? `_[___ :?5:G:5F2= 5@?2E:@?D]k^Am
kAm$F:4:56 :D @?6 @7 E96 =625:?8 42FD6D @7 562E9 7@C 2== 286D] x? a_ab[ ch[b`e p>6C:42?D 5:65 3J DF:4:56 2?5 E96C6 H6C6 2? 6DE:>2E65 `]d >:==:@? DF:4:56 2EE6>AED] |6? 5:65 3J DF:4:56 b]g E:>6D >@C6 E92? H@>6?[ H:E9 H9:E6 >2=6D 244@F?E:?8 7@C eg]`bT @7 DF:4:56 562E9D] u:C62C>D 244@F?E65 7@C dd]beT @7 2== DF:4:56 562E9D]k^Am
kAmx? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D :? a_ab[ DF:4:56 H2D E96 akDFAm?5k^DFAm =625:?8 42FD6 @7 562E9 7@C 286D `_\bc[ E96 ckDFAmE9k^DFAm =625:?8 42FD6 @7 562E9 7@C 286D bd\cc[ 2?5 E96 dkDFAmE9k^DFAm =625:?8 42FD6 @7 562E9 7@C 286D cd\dc] x? x==:?@:D[ DF:4:56 :D E96 bkDFAmC5k^DFAm =625:?8 42FD6 @7 562E9 7@C 286D `d\bc 2?5 ckDFAmE9k^DFAm =625:?8 42FD6 7@C 286D bd\dc] k^Am
kAmQ~FC >:DD:@? E@ D2G6 =:G6D 2?5 3C:?8 9@A6 E@ E9@D6 27764E65 3J DF:4:56 :D >256 A@DD:3=6 3J A6@A=6 H9@ 86E :?G@=G65 2?5 8:G6 E:C6=6DD=J E@ 96=A @E96CD] %9:D 56D4C:36D E96 2>2K:?8 :?5:G:5F2=D =625:?8 E96 H2J :? r9:428@[Q D2:5 q@3 v633:2[ 49:67 6I64FE:G6 @77:46C @7 pu$!] Qx H2?E E@ E92?< 6G6CJ@?6 H9@ A2CE:4:A2E65 :? E96 #246 7@C w@A6 r9:428@ |2C2E9@? %62> 2?5 E96 r9:428@=2?5 ~FE @7 E96 s2C<?6DD r@>>F?:EJ (2=< 7@C E96:C :?4C65:3=6 565:42E:@?[ 2?5 7@C C2:D:?8 G:E2= 7F?5D 7@C DF:4:56 AC6G6?E:@? C6D62C49[ 65F42E:@? 2?5 25G@424J[ 2?5 7@C DFAA@CE @7 E9@D6 H9@ DECF88=6 2?5 E9@D6 H9@ 92G6 =@DE D@>6@?6 E@ DF:4:56]Qk^Am
kAm}2E:@?2==J[ ?:?6 :? E6? :?5:G:5F2=D H9@ 5:6 3J DF:4:56 H6C6 =:G:?8 H:E9 2 5:28?@D23=6 >6?E2= 962=E9 4@?5:E:@? 2E E96 E:>6 @7 E96:C 562E9[ H:E9 E96D6 4@?5:E:@?D @7E6? 36:?8 F?5:28?@D65 @C F?EC62E65] pD 2 =625:?8 42FD6 @7 562E9[ DF:4:56 :D 2 AF3=:4 962=E9 AC@3=6> 3FE 42? 36 AC6G6?E65 E9C@F89 65F42E:@? 2?5 25G@424J] #6D62C49 D9@HD E92E E96C6 :D ?@ D:?8=6 42FD6 7@C DF:4:56[ 2?5 DF:4:56 C:D< :?4C62D6D H96? D6G6C2= 962=E9 724E@CD 2?5 =:76 DEC6DD@CD 4@?G6C86 E@ 4C62E6 2? 6IA6C:6?46 @7 9@A6=6DD?6DD 2?5 56DA2:C] !6@A=6 42? =62C? E96 H2C?:?8 D:8?D 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdbg``b\`U2>Aj9ldbg_cdcgdU2>AjFl9EEATbpTauTauHHH]27DA]@C8TauD:8?DU2>Aj2l27DA]@C8TauD:8?DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm27DA]@C8^D:8?Dk^2mkDA2? DEJ=6lQE6IE\564@C2E:@?i F?56C=:?6Qm]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmpu$! 2?5 :ED x==:?@:D r92AE6C 2C6 565:42E65 E@ :>AC@G65 C6D62C49[ 65F42E:@?[ 2?5 25G@424J] %9C@F89 :ED DE2E6H:56 ?6EH@C< @7 G@=F?E66CD[ pu$! x==:?@:D @776CD AC6G6?E:@? 65F42E:@? AC@8C2>D E92E 6>A92D:K6 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 C6D62C49\AC@G6? D6=7\42C6 E649?:BF6D 2D H6== 2D E96 G2=F6 @7 6?828:?8 AC@76DD:@?2= DFAA@CE]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mp3@FE E96 p>6C:42? u@F?52E:@? 7@C $F:4:56 !C6G6?E:@?ik^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdbg``b\`U2>Aj9lbghhf`d`h_U2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTau27DA]@C8TauU2>Aj2lp>6C:42?TraTp_u@F?52E:@?TraTp_7@CTraTp_$F:4:56TraTp_!C6G6?E:@?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmp>6C:42? u@F?52E:@? 7@C $F:4:56 !C6G6?E:@?k^2m :D 565:42E65 E@ D2G:?8 =:G6D 2?5 3C:?8:?8 9@A6 E@ :?5:G:5F2=D 27764E65 3J DF:4:56] %96 @C82?:K2E:@? 4C62E6D 2 4F=EFC6 E92E :D D>2CE C682C5:?8 >6?E2= 962=E9 E9C@F89 65F42E:@?2= AC@8C2>D[ 25G@42E:@? 7@C DF:4:56 AC6G6?E:@?[ 2?5 AC@G:5:?8 DFAA@CE 7@C E9@D6 27764E65 3J DF:4:56] p== 5@?2E:@?D 8@ E@H2C5D E96D6 677@CED H:E9 E96 8@2= E@ 8C62E=J C65F46 E96 ?2E:@?2= DF:4:56 C2E6]k^Am
More from this section
kAmu@C >@C6i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdbg``b\`U2>Aj9lb`hbgg`gfbU2>AjFl9EEATbpTauTauHHH]27DA]@C8Taux==:?@:DU2>Aj2lHHH]27DA]@C8Taux==:?@:DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmHHH]27DA]@C8^x==:?@:Dk^2mk^Am
kAmr9:428@=2?5 (2=<i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdbg``b\`U2>Aj9lbg_aachffgU2>AjFl9EEATbpTauTauHHH]49:428@H2=<]@C8TauU2>Aj2l49:428@H2=<]@C8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm49:428@H2=<]@C8k^2mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mk6>mx7 J@FÂ @C D@>6@?6 J@FÂ <?@HÂ :D 2E C:D<Â @7 DF:4:56[Â A=62D6 42== @C E6IE E96Â &]$]Â }2E:@?2= $F:4:56 2?5 rC:D:D {:76=:?6 2E hgg]k^6>mk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm$E2E:DE:4D @? $F:4:56i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdbg``b\`U2>Aj9l`egcbcgbgeU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTau27DA]@C8TauDF:4:56\DE2E:DE:4DU2>Aj2l9EEADTbpTauTau27DA]@C8TauDF:4:56\DE2E:DE:4DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^27DA]@C8^DF:4:56\DE2E:DE:4Dk^2mk^Am
kAm$F:4:56 !C6G6?E:@? #6D@FC46Di k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdbg``b\`U2>Aj9l`d`daca`e_U2>AjFl9EEATbpTauTauHHH]27DA]@C8TauC6D@FC46DU2>Aj2lHHH]27DA]@C8TauC6D@FC46DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmHHH]27DA]@C8^C6D@FC46Dk^2mk^Am
kAm$F:4:56 (2C?:?8 $:8?Di k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdbg``b\`U2>Aj9l`ecb`hc_gcU2>AjFl9EEATbpTauTauHHH]27DA]@C8TauD:8?DU2>Aj2lHHH]27DA]@C8TauD:8?DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmHHH]27DA]@C8^D:8?Dk^2mk^Am
kAm|65:2i #6A@CE:?8 @? $F:4:56 !C6G6?E:@?i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdbg``b\`U2>Aj9l`g`bfdaf`gU2>AjFl9EEATbpTauTauHHH]27DA]@C8TauC6A@CE:?8\@?\DF:4:56\AC6G6?E:@?U2>Aj2lHHH]27DA]@C8TauC6A@CE:?8\@?\DF:4:56\AC6G6?E:@?Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmHHH]27DA]@C8^C6A@CE:?8\@?\DF:4:56\AC6G6?E:@?k^2mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m':56@ik^DEC@?8m q\C@== @7 a_ac r9:428@=2?5 (2=<i k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdbg``b\`U2>Aj9lahbdag__`gU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]J@FEF36]4@>TauH2E49TbuGTbsdC?7rv5|?qDU2>Aj2l9EEADTbpTauTauHHH]J@FEF36]4@>TauH2E49TbuGTbsdC?7rv5|?qDQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^H2E49nGldC?7rv5|?qDk^2mk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m!9@E@Di k^DEC@?8m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^=:?<^nEl_U2>Aj=l6?U2>Aj@lcdbg``b\`U2>Aj9l`cdbfgeb`aU2>AjFl9EEADTbpTauTauD92C65]@FE=@@<]:?<J]4@>Tau=:?<Tbu5@>2:?Tbs52>]86EEJ:>286D]4@>TaeETbs9]6yI};&t~H:p&#zh:(}D:$p'46#&zw_B_7p{&Iq;GC?%=3;xK66h}EGx8`H}+(DG`$B<KeI:8E'54%*pe(=IA9"7*'B=+@&#C_FqI$ge_:sa(@(f##85s{GrtE}5a\#_s<F~qbsD\"4|$yD2u'E"Fy6d<B{4$4g&&r>dd5buIc>4?E(&K&_dAr)x$H?GAw#~6~gC<Ay>2>~2;!!t{'fA{@tGJ88bC3+fb_wuh4?befKd79)}"y"]|t"rxtpe$6w(@pc&hh;_0h_8Dx7x=ga{H77cprH2!9;w~w<Hp:qb&d@yqy_6uA>7I6{f>@Jy2v(D%pd'c%(~*u>FJA;`$pU2>Aj2l9EEADTbpTauTau52>]86EEJ:>286D]4@>TauD6=64EDTau2>6C:42?\7@F?52E:@?\7@C\DF:4:56\AC6G6?E:@?\49:428@Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm9EEADi^^52>]86EEJ:>286D]4@>^D6=64ED^2>6C:42?\7@F?52E:@?\7@C\DF:4:56\AC6G6?E:@?\49:428@k^2m k^Am
k5:G 4=2DDlQ!#}0x>365565pDD6E#676C6?46Q :5lQs:GpDD6E!=246w@=56CaQmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>>2]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^>65:2^ag_a_bc^#24607@C0w@A60{@8@]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk^2mk^Amk^5:Gm
kA :5lQ!&#{Qmk:>8 E:E=6lQr:D:@?Q H:5E9lQ`aQ 96:89ElQ`aQ 2=ElQr:D:@?Q DC4lQ9EEADi^^6586]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^4^:>8^72G:4@?]A?8nD?l!w_bcggU2>AjD5la_ad\`_\aaQ ^m ':6H @C:8:?2= 4@?E6?E E@ 5@H?=@25 >F=E:>65:2ik2 :5lQ!#}&#{Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^@FE\@7\E96\52C<?6DD\49:428@=2?5\H2=<\2?5\32?<\@7\2>6C:42\49:428@\>2C2E9@?\27DA\C246\7@C\9@A6\E62>\C2:D6\@G6C\`\g\>:==:@?\:?\a_ad\\b_adh_g_b]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9EEADi^^HHH]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^?6HD\C6=62D6D^@FE\@7\E96\52C<?6DD\49:428@=2?5\H2=<\2?5\32?<\@7\2>6C:42\49:428@\>2C2E9@?\27DA\C246\7@C\9@A6\E62>\C2:D6\@G6C\`\g\>:==:@?\:?\a_ad\\b_adh_g_b]9E>=k^2mk^Am
kAm$~&#rt p>6C:42? u@F?52E:@? 7@C $F:4:56 !C6G6?E:@?k^Am
kAmk:>8 2=ElQQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^CE]AC?6HDH:C6]4@>^CE]8:7n}6HDxE6>x5l!w_bcggU2>Aj%C2?D>:DD:@?0x5la_ad`_aa_fb_!#0}t($0&$!#00000!w_bcggU2>Ajs2E6x5la_ad`_aaQ DEJ=6lQ3@C56Ci_AIj H:5E9i`AIj 96:89Ei`AIjQ ^mk^Am