Bake Sale- How It Went

Hey Everyone!

Today was the Christmas bake-sale and it was a success! I had many great friends donate many delicous treats, and I had many little helpers sell these treats! There were many great people buying treats sharing stories of loss or of their battle of mental illness themselves. Today we spoke openly about this, and it was in this act that we began to end the stigma, by no-longer remaining silent!Together we raised $226.27 towards the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Thank-you all for making this possible, together we are saving lives!

BAKE SALE!!

Hey Friends,

Another year to save lives! Our first fundraiser of the fundraising season will be

When: Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Where: West Shore YMCA

Time: 10:00-6:00.

Come buy some festive goodies for a good caused baked by my beloved friends! Hope to see all of your smiling faces there!

AFSP New York City Walk Photos!

My amazing boyfriend and I before the walk!

A poster the kids at my daycare made for the walk, thanks guys!

The shirt I wore for the walk stating all those I participated in the walk for: Laurie my loving mother, Andrew Gomez my dear friend's son as well as for all those who are fighting to live!

A great view of the city!

The sunset across the beautiful city.

The van my boyfriend and I drove for the walk with "Honk for Suicide Prevention" written on the side, many walkers loved it!

My AMAZING friend Gayle and myself, thank-you so much!

The famous luminaries, representing all those who we have lost to suicide and those still fighting to live. May we continue to lessen the numbers of the luminaries.

Walk In New York

Hey Everyone,

THANK-YOU ALL SOOO MUCH! Together we raised a total of of 2.5 million dollars for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention! It was another eventful journey and I thank everyone that helped me get here! Without all of you guys we could not have made a difference for suicide prevention!

This year the walk took place in the beautiful city of New York. The walk was 18 miles and my amazing boyfriend Dustin and I picked up any walkers having difficulties along the way. We drove around the amazing city while meeting some truly remarkable people along the way. Thank-you all again for making a difference in this world and helping to save lives!

Theraputic Poem

Hey Everyone,

I wrote this poem a while ago, on January 13th, 2008. I titled it "Here We Are" talking about the journey that survivors of suicide go through.

Everyday we awake,

with broken hearts.

Our passionate eyes will never

get to see their

smile,

hear their voice,

feel their hugs,

or say I love you and

hear their reply.

Just to awake everyday

is a challenge itself.

Most times we reach in that

closet for that mask,

secretly crying underneith.

Tears com now from things

that our soul years for.

The past is our love because

we see breath, our life full.

Memories now, only memories.

But we are still here,

missing them everyday, but still standing.

Here we stand, please listen to our tale.

So memories can still be made for others.

Look at our scar, we are not ashemed.

See our eyes, despair from our endless hunt for that love.

Life is a gift, here we stand,

strong from a deathful pain.

Battles with life, with ourselves,

please listen ad see how we stand, strong.

I'll Keep Smiling

There is that little guy again, my amazing nephew. This is another moment my Mom is missing. Soon he will be graduating kindergarten, and his Grandmother will not be there to cheer him on. Her death was devasting, however every moment in life is always pained by her absence. But through this pain, I've learned to smile again. I know though it hurts, my life will go on, with this little guy always making me smile.

Making a Difference!

Hey Everyone,

I recently learned some truly great news! Researchers at Johns Hopkins have found that there is a correlation between suicide attempters and the level of gene ACP1 on chromosome 2. This shows that there is a genetic component to suicide and opens the door to giving a deeper understanding of how a mental disorder can affect a person's chemical make-up. Also this can give a better understanding of how to treat a person who has attempted suicide or has a mental illness medically. And I am glad to state that this research was completed because of grant money given by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention! This is so great to know that the money we've raised has truly gone to a great cause and IS making a difference. If you would like to read the full article please go to:

http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_ID=54B7DCFF-D569-1FBC-B924CA5726ED0A88

Thank-you all for your continured support, together we are saving lives!