The 11th annual Out of the Darkness Burlington County Walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will be held at Laurel Acres Park on Saturday, Oct. 17. Mount Laurel native Kyra Berry founded the Burlington County walk in 2016 when she was a junior at Lenape High School.
Growing up, Berry struggled with her mental health and was diagnosed with depression at 13. Once she felt that she was in a better place and had the support of friends and family, she wanted to open the conversation about mental health, so she connected with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and they partnered to host the first walk for Burlington County.
“It really has been so amazing and I think it speaks to the need in the community, and all the individuals who come together to be in that community and be in a place where there is this acknowledgement of pain and suffering and struggle, and to hold that side by side with hope and healing and the loved ones that we are remembering who aren’t with us anymore and the loved ones we are within their journey and here to support, it really is what keeps me going every year,” Berry said.
Check-in time for the walk will be at 9 a.m. and the event will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. Walks are between 1 to 3 miles and are non-competitive. The route and additional information specific to the Burlington County Walk will be added online closer to the event. There will also be an opening ceremony, activities of hope and healing, resource tables and complimentary honor beads for every participant.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. In 2025, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline’s state contact centers received 4,336,016 calls – a 12% increase over 2024. Notably, 89% of those calls were answered in-state, ensuring localized support for those in crisis. Funds raised at the Out of the Darkness Burlington County Walk directly support research, advocacy efforts, and educational programs in schools, workplaces and communities across New Jersey.
As of Sept. 17, the Burlington County Walk has raised more than $28,000, with a goal of $110,000. Donations accepted for the Burlington County Walk will be accepted through Thursday, Dec. 31. To register for or donate to the walk, or for more information on how to sponsor and volunteer, visit https://afspwalks.donordrive.com/BurlingtonCo. You can also follow the OutOfTheDarkness Walks on Facebook and X.
“I always feel so overwhelmed when I look back and see the crowd,” Berry said. “When I’m actually walking and I turn around and I look at all of the people filling the path of Laurel Acres Park, it gives me goosebumps every year. There are so many people who are either or both impacted by mental health, mental illness, suicide, or they have decided they want to spend their Saturday morning showing up for their community and showing up for their loved ones and showing their support. I just always have this overwhelming sense of, ‘Wow, we are really doing something meaningful here.’”
The 11th annual Out of the Darkness Burlington County Walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention will be held at Laurel Acres Park on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 9 a.m.
