Daniel Hornik died a warrior.

Armed with a larger-than-life personality, a mischievous sense of humour and charisma that left people smiling long after he left the room, Hornik faced his depression head on.

But his depression was dark and the darkness engulfed him. On September 18, 2012, Hornik took his life. He was 35 years old.

To this day, his family and friends struggle to understand the depth of his depression and say the last two years have been a learning experience.

“Before Daniel lost his life, depression was just a word,” said Elise Pulver, a long-time friend of Hornik. “(That day) I received a call that changed the way I understood depression.”

Pulver first met Hornik when they were in Grade 7 and they were part of a large but tight-knit group of friends that never lost touch over the years.

That same group of friends are now organizing a fundraiser with the sole purpose of changing the public’s perception of mental illness.

“We have a need to eradicate mental illness and the stigma attached to it because people like Daniel suffer in silence,” she said.

Pulver said Hornik was able to hide just how much he suffered, often appearing as the “happiest guy in the room,” with thousands of friends, a loving long-term girlfriend and a warm, supportive family.

“I was absolutely shocked (when he died),” Pulver said. “I knew he suffered from depression but I didn’t know the depths of it, how deep it was. I’ve learned a lot from reading about it, I know now to pick up the phone and talk to your friends. Don’t text, Talk to them.”

Rock For Research is taking place on Thursday, May 14 at 7 p.m. at The Hoxton, a downtown Toronto bar that often hosts live bands.

That night, to pay homage to Hornik’s love of music and the 90s era they grew up in, the night will feature a wide selection of 90s tribute bands such as “Loving in the Name of,” “Oldies 990,” and “Hipster Orchestra.”

Individual tickets are $100 and includes a tax receipt, catering and an open bar. All money raised is going to the CAMH Foundation, an organization that treats more than 28,000 patients and responds to 500,000 outpatients a year.

So far, though the fundraiser officially launched Tuesday, the organizers have secured a commitment for $55,000 in sponsorship money. They hope to make Rock for Research an annual event.

“We are overwhelmed by the support we have already received especially since the sponsors came in before we officially launched our campaign and some of them don't even have a personal connection with him,” Pulver said. “It just reinforces our belief that this is a cause that is important to so many people, not just those who knew Daniel.”

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