By Daijah White / Sports Editor

This year, Valleypalooza and Family Weekend brought the community together at Missouri Valley College’s “Light Up the Night” walk. Valley Student Affairs, Marshall Public Schools and the Saline County Mental Health Association organized the event in support of National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and mental health. The walk was open to the entire community.

As participants gathered by the campus columns, they were greeted by informational tables set up by the Saline County Mental Health Association. The organization sold neon T-shirts and gave away more than 1,000 black shirts printed with the phrase “Are You Okay Today?” The group also provided luminarias that attendees could dedicate to someone or use to show support.

One of the names written on the luminarias was “Damien Lee Brown.” Just over a year ago, Brown died by suicide after a battle with mental health. His mother, Shauna Lash, said her son was good at masking his struggles, but she knew he was fighting an internal battle.

Lash joined the walk along with many families and friends from the community. While she has participated in other Glow Walks, this was her first in her hometown. In addition to being a mother affected firsthand by suicide, Lash has worked as a mental health nurse for years.

“I love it and I hope that it gets bigger and bigger,” Lash said. “Not that I want people to have to come to these, but I want people to support them because the more awareness we have the better.”

Lash expressed gratitude for the Glow Walks she has attended and said events like these inspire hope and community. She added that she hopes society continues to move toward meaningful change and stronger support for those struggling with mental health. For her, kindness is the foundation of that progress.

Before the walk began, Saline County Coroner Willie Harlow spoke to the crowd with representatives of the Mental Health Association. Harlow shared that while not every day is perfect, events like “Light Up the Night” remind him there are always people he can reach out to.

After the remarks, participants set off on the walk. A trail of bright colors lit the way as the community carried glow sticks and wore neon shirts along a path lined with luminaries. The route stretched from the columns, through Valley’s campus and around Gregg-Mitchell Field. Attendees were free to walk until about 9 p.m., or return to the columns afterward to enjoy fellowship and continue showing their support.

“The walk was really interesting because there were a lot of people from the community that came out and showed their support for the movement,” said MVC student Jordyn Pollock.

The event helped launch Valley’s Valleypalooza weekend, spreading awareness and building community connections. It reminded those who have been affected by suicide and mental health struggles that they are not alone.