Daniel Chun Raising Awareness Fund
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Daniel Chun was a man with a beautiful mind and a heart of gold. He was a loving son, loving brother, and a devoted friend to everyone and anyone. Anyone who has met him always will remember him for his infectious smile, unique and silly sense of humor, dance moves, his bars during a cypher, and his unmeasurable kindness. Daniel loved everyone he had ever met, especially his family and friends.
Never one to put himself in front of everyone, Daniel was the type of person to give half of his brand new can of Pringles to a homeless person outside the store front and the type of person to give the brand-new jacket off his back to someone on the streets that will need it for cold and wet winter night. He was a loyal friend until the end. He was not one to judge and would have your back in any situation.
Daniel had big dreams for the future. For those of us that knew Daniel growing up you remember his muscular calves and athleticism. Daniel played football and was a stylish breakdancer. Besides being an athlete, Daniel was incredibly ambitious. One of his goals was to transfer to Berkeley and study philosophy. He constantly talked about wanting to go back to school and become a philosopher. For those that were able to converse with Daniel, you know that when you'd walk away from that conversation your mind would be stimulated for the day. Daniel had a way with his words whether that that meant bringing laughter to your heart or exploring your deepest thoughts.
Unfortunately over the last 4 years, Daniel was battling and suffering from a mental illness known as schizophrenia. Schizophrenia cannot be cured and we still don’t understand how one can get it. What we do know is that it stems from a combination of environmental factors, genetics and altered brain chemistry. The treatments available are medication and therapy and even that does not fully treat the symptoms. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, the symptoms can be very disabling.” It was a battle Daniel lived with everyday. Daniel saw and heard things that only he experienced. These things scared him and he wanted all of it to go away. Daniel would cope with these monsters by taking very long walks or writing in his many journals. Daniel has likely walked every inch of Riverside. Many of us that are close to Daniel saw him trekking up and down Canyon Crest. For some of us that walk seems quite difficult but for Daniel that was his form coping and brought him peace.
Daniel and his family planned to run the OC Marathon together this year in May. May happens to also be Mental Health Awareness Month and Schizophrenia Awareness week falls on May 17 to 23. This would have marked another one in the books for him. Many of us have been blessed to experience the life of Daniel Chun and it is with a broken heart that he is no longer physically with us today. He will not be able to share his laughter with us or take part in the OC Marathon with his family. We, his friends, would like to invite you all to join us in honoring the life of Daniel Chun in running with us this year and every year after in the OC Marathon. Although Daniel cannot physically run with us I know that he will be with us in spirit. #WeRunForChun
With Daniel's family's blessing, This GoFundMe was created in honor of Daniel Chun to raise awareness for mental health. We are raising money to donate to a charitable cause. We have picked the Pacific Grove Hospital, in Daniel’s hometown of Riverside, that treats and helps people dealing with mental health issues. They have extensive inpatient and outpatient programs that help people get through whatever they are going through in their life.
Pacific Grove Hospital Brochure
How Pacific Grove Hospital Handles Patient with Schizophrenia
Anything you can donate would help. Anything you can donate to help raise awareness for mental health. Anything you can donate that would help society look at the way we handle mental health. Anything you can donate that would help lead us one step closer to a cure. With Daniel’s passing, I am sure we all would like to learn more about mental health.
Chun, we love you man. And we miss you like crazy. You will always be with our thoughts and prayers for the rest of our lives. May God bless you with the peace that you deserve from this amazing life you have lived on this Earth.
- Chris and Lucy
Never one to put himself in front of everyone, Daniel was the type of person to give half of his brand new can of Pringles to a homeless person outside the store front and the type of person to give the brand-new jacket off his back to someone on the streets that will need it for cold and wet winter night. He was a loyal friend until the end. He was not one to judge and would have your back in any situation.
Daniel had big dreams for the future. For those of us that knew Daniel growing up you remember his muscular calves and athleticism. Daniel played football and was a stylish breakdancer. Besides being an athlete, Daniel was incredibly ambitious. One of his goals was to transfer to Berkeley and study philosophy. He constantly talked about wanting to go back to school and become a philosopher. For those that were able to converse with Daniel, you know that when you'd walk away from that conversation your mind would be stimulated for the day. Daniel had a way with his words whether that that meant bringing laughter to your heart or exploring your deepest thoughts.
Unfortunately over the last 4 years, Daniel was battling and suffering from a mental illness known as schizophrenia. Schizophrenia cannot be cured and we still don’t understand how one can get it. What we do know is that it stems from a combination of environmental factors, genetics and altered brain chemistry. The treatments available are medication and therapy and even that does not fully treat the symptoms. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, the symptoms can be very disabling.” It was a battle Daniel lived with everyday. Daniel saw and heard things that only he experienced. These things scared him and he wanted all of it to go away. Daniel would cope with these monsters by taking very long walks or writing in his many journals. Daniel has likely walked every inch of Riverside. Many of us that are close to Daniel saw him trekking up and down Canyon Crest. For some of us that walk seems quite difficult but for Daniel that was his form coping and brought him peace.
Daniel and his family planned to run the OC Marathon together this year in May. May happens to also be Mental Health Awareness Month and Schizophrenia Awareness week falls on May 17 to 23. This would have marked another one in the books for him. Many of us have been blessed to experience the life of Daniel Chun and it is with a broken heart that he is no longer physically with us today. He will not be able to share his laughter with us or take part in the OC Marathon with his family. We, his friends, would like to invite you all to join us in honoring the life of Daniel Chun in running with us this year and every year after in the OC Marathon. Although Daniel cannot physically run with us I know that he will be with us in spirit. #WeRunForChun
With Daniel's family's blessing, This GoFundMe was created in honor of Daniel Chun to raise awareness for mental health. We are raising money to donate to a charitable cause. We have picked the Pacific Grove Hospital, in Daniel’s hometown of Riverside, that treats and helps people dealing with mental health issues. They have extensive inpatient and outpatient programs that help people get through whatever they are going through in their life.
Pacific Grove Hospital Brochure
How Pacific Grove Hospital Handles Patient with Schizophrenia
Anything you can donate would help. Anything you can donate to help raise awareness for mental health. Anything you can donate that would help society look at the way we handle mental health. Anything you can donate that would help lead us one step closer to a cure. With Daniel’s passing, I am sure we all would like to learn more about mental health.
Chun, we love you man. And we miss you like crazy. You will always be with our thoughts and prayers for the rest of our lives. May God bless you with the peace that you deserve from this amazing life you have lived on this Earth.
- Chris and Lucy
Organizer
Chris Ags
Organizer
Riverside, CA