Nearing the 1st anniversary of her son’s demise, Tonya Ames and her mate Carlene Karafelis set out to do a thing in his memory to enable raise cash for and awareness of suicide avoidance and psychological well being. The plan? A psychological health and fitness and suicide prevention awareness style exhibit fundraiser. This year would be the first, and expected, annual charity function offered by Fashvia and Andre’s Military.
The fashion display will be held Saturday, March 5, at the Rochester Undertaking Arts Center at 7 p.m. It is a black-tie event featuring over 20 designs, speakers who will talk about psychological wellness and suicide, raffles and a DJ.
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Ames is 1 of the volunteer versions. She and other individuals will strut down a purple carpet, a nod to the suicide recognition shades of teal and purple. Recognition ribbons will also be handed out.
Ames’ son Andre Schaeffer died by suicide on June 12, 2021. Schaeffer was the third member of his Dover Substantial Class of 2022 to die by suicide within just a few years. This college year would have been the 3 teenagers’ senior yr.
“I am happy that we’re performing this not only to honor Andre, but also the other boys in his class that also took their life in the very last handful of yrs because our group has lost 3 amazing youthful adult men,” Ames claimed. “There’s so a great deal stigma all over psychological overall health, but we seriously require to convey gentle to it instead.”
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Since Schaeffer was recognised for his spirit and enthusiasm for cheerleading, his mom preferred to keep that spirit for uplifting some others alive. So considerably, over 120 tickets have been offered.
Karafelis, who is also a photographer, recalls the final time she noticed Schaeffer. Two days just before his dying, her son Mason, who was close buddies with Schaeffer, and Schaeffer arrived to her studio and “had the most pleasurable picture shoot ever.” Schaeffer’s dying was a reminder to her that mental health “does not discriminate, and can affect any person at any time.”
“He was so delighted that day, you in no way would have identified what he was dealing with,” Karafelis said. “We want to deliver consciousness and educate people about mental overall health, in a pleasurable way. We’ve by now cried so lots of tears in the final calendar year. We need to have to honor him and others in a favourable way. This is a reminder of how crucial psychological overall health is.”
All proceeds from the vogue show’s ticket and raffle income will be donated to Connor’s Climb, a New Hampshire- dependent foundation focused on suicide avoidance and psychological well being education and learning. The nonprofit was named in memory of Connor Ball, an Exeter 14-calendar year-aged who died by suicide in 2011.
Tickets to the party can be obtained on EventBrite. Ames requested those who cannot make it to the event, but would continue to like to demonstrate guidance can take into account producing a donation to Connor’s Climb in the identify of their loved a single missing to suicide or to Andre. These proceeds will enable fund more Symptoms Of Suicide training in schools, Ames mentioned.