DeKALB – The Out of the Darkness Community Walk exceeded its fundraising goal of $4,000 during Saturday's event in DeKalb and can continue to beat expectations with donations open until Dec. 31.

The walk, held at Hopkins Park, attracted 56 people and raised $4,248. Proceeds went to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The event was one of more than 250 walks in communities across the country this year.

Participants wore different colored beads that symbolized their own experience with depression and suicide. For instance, white beads indicated the loss of a child to suicide while green beads indicated the person struggled with or attempted to commit suicide.