Mercer Students Share Emotional Stories at Record-Breaking Suicide Prevention Walk

The annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk on Mercer's campus raised over $13,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:50pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a semicolon symbol repeated in a tight grid pattern, representing the mental health and suicide prevention theme of the Mercer University event.The vibrant energy and community spirit of Mercer's annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk aims to destigmatize conversations around mental health and honor those lost to suicide.Macon Today

Mercer University's annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk saw a record-breaking turnout and fundraising total this year, with about 200 people gathering on campus to support suicide prevention efforts. Several students shared personal stories of losing loved ones to suicide, including Will Spurlock '26, who lost his brother just a week before the previous year's walk. Other speakers like Teresita Cabral '26, Emma Ostrander '25, Brad Wilson '26, and Zach Carman '26 also opened up about the tragic deaths of their family members, hoping to break the stigma around suicide and mental health.

Why it matters

The Out of the Darkness Campus Walk is an important annual event that raises awareness and funds for suicide prevention. By providing a platform for students to share their personal stories, the walk aims to spark open conversations about suicide and mental illness, which are often stigmatized topics. The record-breaking turnout and fundraising totals this year demonstrate the growing need and desire within the Mercer community to support mental health resources and honor loved ones lost to suicide.

The details

Mercer's Out of the Darkness Campus Walk has been held annually since 2020, but this year's event on April 11, 2026 was the largest yet. The walk raised over $13,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, breaking the previous fundraising record. Approximately 200 people gathered on Cruz Plaza to participate, including several Mercer students who gave emotional speeches about losing family members to suicide. Will Spurlock '26 lost his brother just a week before the 2023 walk, but his fraternity brothers rallied to support him and raise thousands of dollars. Other student speakers like Teresita Cabral '26, Emma Ostrander '25, Brad Wilson '26, and Zach Carman '26 also shared stories of losing loved ones, hoping to destigmatize conversations around suicide and mental health.

  • Will Spurlock '26 lost his brother to suicide in April 2023, just a week before the 2023 Out of the Darkness Campus Walk.
  • Teresita Cabral '26's stepfather, Kendrick, died by suicide in 2024.
  • Emma Ostrander '25's mother died by suicide in November 2025.
  • Brad Wilson '26's older brother died by suicide in June 2025.
  • Zach Carman '26's father, John Carman, died by suicide at age 78 while living with Alzheimer's disease.

The players

Will Spurlock

A Mercer University student in the class of 2026 who lost his brother to suicide just a week before the 2023 Out of the Darkness Campus Walk, but has since led the annual event.

Teresita Cabral

A Mercer University student in the class of 2026 who spoke about losing her stepfather, Kendrick, to suicide in 2024.

Emma Ostrander

A Mercer University student in the class of 2025 who spoke about losing her mother to suicide in November 2025.

Brad Wilson

A Mercer University student in the class of 2026 who spoke about losing his older brother to suicide in June 2025.

Zach Carman

A Mercer University student in the class of 2026 who spoke about losing his father, John Carman, to suicide at age 78 while he was living with Alzheimer's disease.

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What they’re saying

“He saw me as his daughter long before I fully said it out loud. And now, looking back, that moment is what stays with me, not how we lost him, but how much love was there while we had him.”

— Teresita Cabral, Mercer University Student

“When I first talked to Will about speaking here today, my immediate thoughts were 'absolutely not.'”

— Emma Ostrander, Mercer University Student

“I just want to prevent that from happening to anybody else's family because I understand how tragic it was for my family.”

— Brad Wilson, Mercer University Student

“Even the shortest of interactions are an opportunity to not only bring hope to those silently struggling, but to bring hope to all of us.”

— Zach Carman, Mercer University Student

What’s next

Mercer University plans to continue hosting the annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention efforts. The university is also exploring ways to expand mental health resources and support services for students on campus.

The takeaway

The record-breaking turnout and emotional stories shared at Mercer's Out of the Darkness Campus Walk demonstrate the growing need to destigmatize conversations around suicide and mental health. By providing a platform for students to openly discuss their personal experiences, the event aims to inspire more open dialogue, connect those struggling with resources, and honor the memories of loved ones lost too soon.