South club Erika’s Lighthouse continued its mission to “bust the stigma” of depression with the Rock and Rally Walkathon on Sept. 29 from 1 to 3 p.m.

According to Club Sponsor Lisa Richardson, the walkathon was designed to help promote the club and raise money for the organization, which in turn provides materials to the club at South. In addition, she hopes the walkathon stimulates conversation about depression.

“It really is about creating a conversation and making [depression] public,” Richardson said. “In public, if people are talking about [depression], the less uncomfortable they’ll be. That’s always been the idea behind it.”

The Walkathon started in Hubbard Woods and was a little less than three miles long. The walkathon went through several North Shore communities and had chairs, tables and local band “Triple A” set up at a gazebo near the starting point.

According to Richardson, roughly 50 South students attended the Walkathon last year. This year, Erika’s Lighthouse used Facebook and Twitter to promote the Walkathon and encourage more people to walk.

Rema Abu-Hashim, a student leader for Erika’s Lighthouse at South, believes the Walkathon is important even for people who aren’t members of Erika’s Lighthouse.

“When people do a walk, they feel like they have contributed in some way even if it’s as simple as walking,” Abu-Hashim said. “Everybody likes to feel like a part of something and doing this [Walkathon] really helps make our ELH community that much bigger and better.”