Up With Life: University of Illinois

May 4, 2017

2 min read

It was a rainy, blustery day on April 30 when the Up With Life: University of Illinois branch hosted their first annual Up With Life Walk! Nearly 200 students, faculty and more had signed up for the event; and despite all of the rain and unfortunate weather, OVER 200 participants checked in that morning! Students, faculty, sorority members, fraternity members, family and friends all got together that day for one purpose; to raise awareness about suicide prevention and ending the stigma that surrounds it.

The agenda for the day started with a guest appearance by U of I's acapella group "Girl's Next Door", guests speakers Jessie & Mady Smith, Issac and U of I alumni Michael Bushman. A moment of silence for a U of I student, Westley Banks, who sadly ended his life by suicide only weeks before the event. Then all of the participants braved the rain and walked 3 laps around the university's quad before heading inside for free refreshments.

Many college students struggle with mental health conditions, and unfortunately at this large university, suicide has made a large impact on many of the students that attend there. In hopes to reach out to fellow students and faculty how to know the suicide warning signs, help someone (or yourself) who may be struggling get help and educate the university as a whole; Up With Life put on a very successful event. It all goes to show that not even a little bit of rain can stop people from being life savers.

All proceeds were donated to the Mental Health organization No Stigmas.

www.nostigmas.com

If you or someone you know is struggling call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline @ 1-800-273-8255

www.upwithlife-suicideprevention.net