For 2 decades, Long Island couple has walked to remember a daughter and help prevent suicides

When 15-year-old Cherilyn Duca came home on weekends to Bethpage from her residential care facility, her infectious energy took over the house.

"She was like a little ball of wind going through here," her mother, Emily Duca, recalled. "She didn’t know what to do first with her freedom. She would have the house phone on one ear, the cellphone on the other and she would be sitting at the computer chatting on MySpace — three things at the same time."

The teen, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, struggled with mental illness for years before ending her life at age 16 in March 2007. Her heartbroken parents immediately immersed themselves in the advocacy community, joining the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Long Island chapter and taking part in the group's annual "Out of the Darkness" walk and fundraiser later that year.

The national nonprofit started the walks in 2002 on high school and college campuses and in communities throughout the United States to educate the public about mental health and suicide prevention, support those impacted by suicide, fund scientific research and push for better public policy regarding mental health. Its 2025 annual report said more than 220,000 people participated in nearly 600 campus and community walks, raising $24 million.

The Ducas named their walking crew "Team Tornado" for Cherilyn's lively personality, and with the help of friends and family, have participated every year since they started, raising over $200,000. 

And for the 20th time, Team Tornado will be there with scores of other families and supporters at Jones Beach State Park's Field 5 early Sunday morning for the 2026 walk.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 10 and 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Data from 2023 showed 20% of high school students "seriously considered" attempting suicide and 9% attempted suicide during the past year, according to the agency. Female students were more likely to seriously consider and attempt suicide than male students.

No plan to stop

Even though 2027 marks 20 years since Cherilyn’s death — a time period longer than her young life — the team has no intent on stopping.

"When we finished our 16th walk, I turned to Emily and said, ‘I don’t know if I can do this anymore, we’ve been doing it as long as she was alive,’ " Dennis Duca said. "But we persevered and continued on to carry on Emily's vision that we are doing this so that no other parent has to go through what we did."

Team Tornado has already surpassed the ambitious goal of raising $27,000. And this year they will be joined by a new team member. Cherilyn’s brother, Andrew, who was 13 when she died, and his wife, Kayleigh, intend to walk with their daughter, Shae, who turns 1 this weekend.

"Cherilyn would have loved her," Emily Duca said, proudly showing a photo of Shae on her phone.

Cherilyn had been in and out of residential and outpatient treatment centers for years as Dennis Duca researched facilities and learned firsthand about the mental health system on Long Island.

"Even with all the investigating he did and choosing the programs that we thought were the best for our child, it still wasn't enough," said Emily Duca, who is a retired teacher.

'There is help'

The couple has made strong bonds with other Long Islanders in the organization, including Philip Bianco, who chairs both the walk committee and the foundation's local chapter.

Bianco said he has watched his own family members struggle with mental illness and some of them died by suicide.

"We want to get the message out that there is help and that they are not alone," said Bianco, 60, of Lindenhurst. "Our walk brings out 3,000 to 5,000 people and it’s amazing. People know they are not the only ones going through something like this."

One of the foundation's programs, called Healing Conversations, offers trained volunteers who have experienced their own loss to meet with suicide loss survivors.

"The walk is not a sad day," Bianco said. "It’s about celebrating the lives of the people who were lost."

The Ducas said parents of children who are struggling with mental illness should reach out to a school counselor or the mental health system and look for advocates.

"Make sure your kid gets the treatment they need," Dennis Duca said. "And just tell them that you love them."

If you or someone you know is going through a difficult time or experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

By Lisa L. Colangelo

lisa.colangelo@newsday.com@lisalcolangelo

Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.