Walk Out of the darkness charity drive

For four years in a row now we have supported the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in honor of Kim Jonghyun, Goo Hara, and Choi Jin-ri (sulli). This year, on September 25th, we held our first in person charity drive to help raise money for the cause.

Last year, due to Covid-19, all the charity walks were cancelled but we still wanted a way to raise money and support the cause thus we held an online charity stream that was extremely successful! This year we wanted to bring the components of our charity stream back into an in person event in hopes of bringing more fundraising and awarness to the cause. These components included performers, activities, and our auction of special and unique kpop items.

This year we had five performers that lent their talents to the event. Soojin (@im._soojin) opened up the event with her cover of Lalisa and a fun Itzy mashup. Ashley (@Ashleysings) brought us her beautiful vocals with Rose's Gone, Drive You Home by Jackson Wang, and an English version of She's in the Rain by The Rose. Sean (@tenzenity) brought us a beautiful original choreography of Shagari la by VIXX and finished up with an energetic performance of an NCT Mash Up. Our amazing DJ, Aspen (@Paintedblossom) also gave us a special self produce set dedicated to a friend she had lost to suicide.

Our final performers were DMSND who were gracious enough to provide a mini dance class where they taught us Red Velvets "Queendom".

 To stay on topic with the event there were also several stations around to provide information and statistics for the cause as well as provide an outlet for those who have a close personal experience with suicide. One thing the AFSP does at their walks is provide beads where each color describes a different relation to the cause. Its an aspect we really wanted to bring to our own event - each person who attended receiving blue beads for their support and then picking out the beads that fit them (if they felt comfortable enough, of course).  

One of the saddest but most rewarding stations of the event was our tribute to the idols lost. To really bring home why we started fundraising and to pay tribute to the three beautiful life's we lost too soon we had a notebook for those who wanted to write notes of love to our lost idols. Although most people walked away with tears in their eyes we wanted to provide an outlet for those still grieving.

We also provided a board for those who might have suffered an even more personal loss to write notes to loved ones and words of encouragements for those who might be struggling themselves. 

The main attraction of the evening, and our biggest fundraising tool, was our auction. We had gathered special and unique kpop good to bring to you. We had good from fanmade jewelry and paintings and snack and drink bags to official merchandise like a lightstick of your choice or event the coveted WayV Take Off album with Hendry PC's! We were even auctioning off a cupsleeve event of your choice hosted by me!

Just like last year the auction was a huge success and we thank everyone who donated these special items as well as those who participated in making the auction fun and exciting. It's always a good time to see that bidding wars take place all for a good cause. 

Along with everything else we also had delicious free food catered by Cholgogi and boba by TeaHee available for purchase. And just to add a little more enjoyment to the event we also had a top loader decorating station to decorate all your favorite photocards.

To round out the event we were happy to bring the extremely popular random dance play. Just like last year this our random dance play playlist was created and sponsored by @DJInnaseoul. It is always a great time to watch everyone show off their moves as well as support each other. If you participated in the random dance play and would like to watch a playback, the full video is posted here!

I want to say a great big thank you to everyone who came to support not only our event but this great cause. Like it has with many, suicide has effected us in devastating ways and we want to continue to support the fight to prevent more heartbreaks. Thanks to everyone who donated - either directly to our fundraising page or through the auction we beat our goal of $1,000 by a landslide! If you didn't get a chance to donate before you can still donate here.

I also want to give a big thank you to everyone who helped make this event happen. To not only the performers and donors but the several volunteers who lent us their time and support throughout the event, Aspen for being out amazing DJ the entire night, and to Ivy (@Picchickphoto) for donating her time to give us lovely photos of the event. Lastly, but definitely not least, I want to thank my cohosts Katy and Morgan who have made these past fundraisers happen with me. I wouldn't want to work on such an important event without these two ladies and I can't wait to continue raising money and awarness for the cause with them in the future.

View the full gallery of photos here