Grief Support for Maple Valley
Donation protected
I sit here today, just one year and 26 days after losing my beautiful 17 year old son Garrett to suicide. A one year journey I never wanted to take yet, here I am...broken but standing and gaining my energy day by day. His death shook our little Maple Valley/Tahoma community as well but, in true 'Village' fashion, they rallied around our family in full support in the days and months following August 24, 2017. I will never forget and will always be grateful for every ounce of support.
Only 3 months after our families loss, on November 26, 2017 our dear friend Jim Wade was lost to suicide as well. A Long time Maple Valley resident, a father to Tahoma HS senior Teague Wade, a husband, a coach, a son, a brother, a friend. And, it is so important to mention that Teague is just one of several Tahoma students who have lost a parent this last year to suicide.
On September 9, 2018 our breath was taken away again by another loss to suicide, Kione Gill. Another sweet, young soul gone too soon. Friend to Garrett and many, many other youth and adults alike in the Maple Valley and Enumclaw communities. A state wrestling champion, a 2018 Tahoma HS grad.... a son, a brother, a friend. Yet again, our wounded community rallies heartfelt support for another family.
Still reeling from the loss of Kione, we are now leveled and brought to our knees by a 4th tragic loss to suicide on September 16, 2018. Kylee Snyder, a sweet, funny 16 year old girl. Tahoma HS Junior, cheerleader...a daughter, a sister, a friend.
I know these four are not the only ones. And, while our little Maple Valley/Tahoma community pulls together even more support for yet another family, it is time to give help to our children & families who are struggling to make sense of the enormous loss of 3 young friends and others to suicide. I have found energy and purpose this last year in planning for the inception of the #live4garrett Suicide Prevention Project and now is the time to put it into action.
Our first fundraising effort is to raise money to fund those who need therapy and for suicide prevention curriculum called SOS.
As many of you may know, therapy and counseling services are often minimally covered, if at all, by insurance. Many of us cannot afford ongoing counseling services that are desperately needed by our children & families. While we all will do whatever it takes to take care for them, the means is just not always available to really treat the incredible need. #live4garrett will use these funds to help the families in our community pay for ongoing therapy. We want to help our children cope with the unbearable loss of so many in such a short time and to understand their own mental health struggles in hopes of preventing any more lives lost.
We will additionally use funds for providing our therapists & counselors with SOS suicide prevention curriculum. This can and will also be provided to anyone who is interested...teachers, coaches, anyone!!
I ask you today, PLEASE help me give back to this community in dire need. The endless support Maple Valley has provided to all these families needs to be reciprocated. ALL the children and families here need healing and help.
THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart in advance for your generous donations!!!
Laurie Sypole
#live4garrett
#keepon4kione
#strong4kylee
#tahomastrong
#stopsuicide
Only 3 months after our families loss, on November 26, 2017 our dear friend Jim Wade was lost to suicide as well. A Long time Maple Valley resident, a father to Tahoma HS senior Teague Wade, a husband, a coach, a son, a brother, a friend. And, it is so important to mention that Teague is just one of several Tahoma students who have lost a parent this last year to suicide.
On September 9, 2018 our breath was taken away again by another loss to suicide, Kione Gill. Another sweet, young soul gone too soon. Friend to Garrett and many, many other youth and adults alike in the Maple Valley and Enumclaw communities. A state wrestling champion, a 2018 Tahoma HS grad.... a son, a brother, a friend. Yet again, our wounded community rallies heartfelt support for another family.
Still reeling from the loss of Kione, we are now leveled and brought to our knees by a 4th tragic loss to suicide on September 16, 2018. Kylee Snyder, a sweet, funny 16 year old girl. Tahoma HS Junior, cheerleader...a daughter, a sister, a friend.
I know these four are not the only ones. And, while our little Maple Valley/Tahoma community pulls together even more support for yet another family, it is time to give help to our children & families who are struggling to make sense of the enormous loss of 3 young friends and others to suicide. I have found energy and purpose this last year in planning for the inception of the #live4garrett Suicide Prevention Project and now is the time to put it into action.
Our first fundraising effort is to raise money to fund those who need therapy and for suicide prevention curriculum called SOS.
As many of you may know, therapy and counseling services are often minimally covered, if at all, by insurance. Many of us cannot afford ongoing counseling services that are desperately needed by our children & families. While we all will do whatever it takes to take care for them, the means is just not always available to really treat the incredible need. #live4garrett will use these funds to help the families in our community pay for ongoing therapy. We want to help our children cope with the unbearable loss of so many in such a short time and to understand their own mental health struggles in hopes of preventing any more lives lost.
We will additionally use funds for providing our therapists & counselors with SOS suicide prevention curriculum. This can and will also be provided to anyone who is interested...teachers, coaches, anyone!!
I ask you today, PLEASE help me give back to this community in dire need. The endless support Maple Valley has provided to all these families needs to be reciprocated. ALL the children and families here need healing and help.
THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart in advance for your generous donations!!!
Laurie Sypole
#live4garrett
#keepon4kione
#strong4kylee
#tahomastrong
#stopsuicide
Organizer
Laurie Boyce-Sypole
Organizer
Maple Valley, WA