Thank you for visiting our Team page! You can make a life-saving difference!
Dear friends and family,
It's been 11 1/2 years since Llewynn took his life. As most of you know, I have been working for the With Hope Foundation, first as a presenter, and now as the bereavement facilitator for our support group called Friends With Hope. Friends With Hope is that caring community for people who have lost a loved one to suicide. We share our stories with each other and we walk together toward hope and healing.
Besides our bereavement services, we give school presentations to middle and high school students. As our 20 year anniversary in 2025 approaches, we are proud to say that we have reached over 330,000 teens! After attending a With Hope Foundation presentation and being empowered by our message “Never Promise to Keep This Secret”, concerned students came forward to share information about a friend they knew or themselves who were contemplating suicide. We were able to partner with school administration, local officials, and parents to secure immediate safety and provide resources for support and counseling. Today, thanks to the life-saving friends, students who were in crisis are safe, no longer feel hopeless and helpless, and are progressing in counseling and making plans for their future.
Depression has risen 83.6% and anxiety disorders have risen 95.6% since Covid began. 22% of high school students thought about suicide last year!. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for 10-14 year olds and 25-34 year olds. It is the 3rd leading cause of death for ages 15-24. Hard to believe I know but these are statistics from the CDC. So you see why I am so passionate about this work!!
We are currently raising funds to continue providing our life-saving resources for suicide prevention and bereavement support. Our main fundraiser, the 18th Annual Walk With Hope is March 8th. Mike, Scott, and I would love you to come walk with us that day to honor Llewynn and to support With Hope. If you cannot walk that day, please consider donating to the cause in his name. Join Team Llewynn by clicking on the link:
https://runsignup.com/Race/159955/Donate/SE6TdiDfh5wxdR1L
Love you all. Thank you for being there for our family through the years. It means so much.
Debbie
