LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell men's and women's lacrosse teams participated in the Out of the Darkness Walk for suicide prevention along the DCR Vandenberg Esplanade in Lowell on Saturday, October 17. Together, the programs raised over $5,000.
 
The women's lacrosse team fundraised an event-high $4,000, while the men's program raised over $1,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), helping the AFSP to promote awareness and provide prevention resources. The women's team was honored for their efforts by leading the walk Saturday morning.
 
"Fall ball is a time for our team to give back to the sport, university and community as a whole," said Head Coach Carissa Medeiros. "The Out of the Darkness Walk was a way that our girls could rally and solicit for a cause greater than themselves, and our staff is so proud of how they responded. The day was beautiful and the event was meaningful on many levels."
 
Sophomore midfielder Erin Hatch (Billerica, Mass.) led the way for both programs, individually raising $460 to contribute to the program's overall donation.
 
"This cause is so important to many people it was easy to get family members and friends to donate," said Hatch. "Also, my teammates and I all wanted to make a big difference. The day of the walk felt special because I knew that I was doing something good and helping out those in need. There were people at the walk who have been impacted by suicide that made me realize why raising the money and walking was so worthwhile."
 
The River Hawks set a goal to raise anywhere from $1,000-$1,250 for the walk, but their selflessness and desire to help make a difference, allowed them to not only reach their goal, but surpass it by a very sizeable amount.