A girlfriend and I participated in the Out of Darkness charity walk for suicide prevention and awareness Sunday. It was a very emotional and touching day for me. My brother lost his best friend two years ago to suicide and one of my dearest friends lost her brother this past March to suicide. It seemed fitting that I help support this cause. So we walked in honor of my brother's best friend Jeremy and my best friend's brother Ramon. May they both Rest in Peace.
The opportunity and ability to participate in events such as this, to help make a difference in a persons life is a privilege not a duty and for that I am
thankful.
"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver." ~Maya Angelou
While there, one mother shared a very disturbing story with us about her daughter Suzy who had committed suicide 6yrs ago in college at the tender age of nineteen.
Long story short.....
Suzy had turned to an online suicide group disguised as a chat room which helped her end her life not save it. This one predator in particular befriended Suzy, became a surrogate father to her in a way and told her the only way out of her depression was to kill herself. He then proceeded to teach her how to write and send a suicide note so it wouldn't be received too promptly therefore avoiding any interruption of her ending her life. He also told her how to obtain cyanide and what the lethal dose would be...this is how her life ended. You'll be amazed to know that Suzy's predator has had 32 "success" stories, a 17yr old child at the time of Suzy's death and will not pay for anything he has done because he is protected by "freedom of speech."
Suzy's parents are now trying to pass Suzy's Law H.R. 853 making it a crime to use the internet to assist people in committing suicide. To read more on the life of Suzy and join the thousands helping make this bill a law please visit:
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