Running for Life – a Note and Donation Request from Bob Campbell ​

​I chose to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in running the New York City marathon. While picking a worthy cause to raise money for is a requirement, let me tell you the story of just how much this cause means to me.

​I turned 21 years old during my junior year at the University of Dayton. It was the first week of May in 2016, so for most UD students that meant one thing: finals week.We had plenty of great things to look forward to, but I was still feeling a little let down that my actual birthday was probably not going to be the overcrowded UD Ghettoboozefest that seemingly every student had junior year. I woke up as a 21-year-old having already finished my academic year, but all my roommates and friends were consumed with finals – or so I thought. 

My friend Garrett (‘G’ as we called him) came to find me that morning and refused to let me wallow in my own disappointment. He drove me to breakfast, forced me to have my first legal drink and then took me to buy my first official case of Natty Light. The day didn’t stop there, but that’s not the point of this story. 

I tell this simple anecdote because it illustrates who G was. He would pick you up when you were down, stay out with you for one more drink and constantly light up every room with his infectious smile and laugh. He cared so much for our group of friends, and our tightknit group of Flyers wouldn’t think of doing anything without inviting G.

After a raucous week in Daytona Beach, I returned homefor two days only to get an early morning phone call from a UD roommate. His shaky voice on the other end of the line said, “There is no easy way to say this, but G took his own life last night.” I crumbled to the ground. 

The tragic suicide of a close friend changed my life and my friends’ lives, but sadly we are not unique or even the minority in this country. 55% of all Americans were affected in some way by suicide in the last year alone. 

We returned to school for our senior year with green wristbands and framed pictures of G. We spoke about him nearly every day and often drank a Miller Lite (or ten) in his honor. We planned memorials, trips, fundraisers and wore t-shirts in his honor. However, suicide was not finished affecting my life. 

My Uncle Dan took his own life in 2018. Similarly to G, he was the life of the party. He never missed a chance to tell a good story or joke and always had a beer for you when you were running low. All my friends knew that when Uncle Dan was in Dayton, he was leading the hours long,can’t-miss party in our broken-down living room. 

I was back on campus as an alum in 2018 to visit my little sister Annie for family weekend. At the time I was training for my first marathon in Columbus, OH, so even during a rowdy weekend I had to wake up to run 16 miles. I saw Uncle Dan in the lobby of the hotel as I limped back in covered in sweat. I can’t remember exactly what he said, but he had two main points. First, he told me how proud he was of me for taking on something that was clearly a big challenge, however in typical Uncle Dan fashion he finished by saying that it was not an excuse for skipping out on a weekend of fun with him and the rest of the family. I wish I remembered more of that last conversation.

My Uncle Dan and Garrett would’ve given me the shirt off their back, so I will run in their honor. If you see me running down Fifth Ave with tears in my eyes just know they are not only for those who we have lost and their families, but also for all of you who have supported me through losses.  

All donations to AFSP in Uncle Dan and Garrett’s honor will be immensely appreciated but if you are unable to donate, please take the time to reach out to a friend or family member. Let us hope we see the end of lives lost too soon.  

Thank you for your generosity toward a cause that affects so many of us. 

Much Love & Hope,

Bob Campbell