Whoo Hoo! Blue for World Suicide Prevention Day.

September 10, 2011

Many months ago I was talking with my dear friend Tracie @PurposefulPract and we decided to join forces to create a team for the Seattle Out of the Darkness Walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on October 1st.

We’re both suicide survivors, if you haven’t heard. Tracie lost her younger sister Leslie in 2009 (and inherited a teenager) and I (we) lost my long time friend Dina in December of 2010 (she left behind a teenager).

We wanted to dream BIG and raise a bunch of money AND raise a bunch of awareness because we’re both SO STINKIN’ PASSIONATE about mental health and suicide prevention. I got the idea in my head (thanks to my friend Maegan) to commit to dyeing my hair blue if I reached my fundraising goal.

Why blue? Well, I made it up. It seemed appropriate. BLUE = SAD =SUICIDE

I didn’t actually really expect to get to $1,500 honestly, much less surpass my goal. (I’m at $1,620 as of today.) Not because I wasn’t serious about dyeing my hair, I just didn’t really expect the RALLY of family, IRL friends and virtual friends who came together to make it happen. I have been unbelievably inspired by YOU.

Tracie & Cristi

Today I dyed my hair ALL blue. Yes, that’s me ———->

Tracie was there at Helle Salon cheering me on, and got bright blue extensions herself. That’s Tracie———–>

Robin @FairwellStrangr got blue streaks today. Please go read her post about it and leave her some love.

Lizz @CanbeAFunnyGirl also got blue streaks today. Go read her post too and show her your love and support.

Brian @YesBrianPerry bought his dye kit and is ready to do the deed.

Other friends @ObservantLynn @Tarabitesback @MamasMonologues @MommyWantsVodka @YaelSaar @MinnesotaJoY have all told me they will be getting a blue streak or two in honor of suicide prevention. I’m pretty sure some other Tweeps also talked about it today as we were live tweeting our dyeing parties. (Just check the hashtag #bluebloggers if you missed it.)

Anyway, what I’m saying is … we can do great things when we come together. Seriously wonderful. We can start the conversation and support one another through struggles and loss. We can fight the stigma of mental illness. We can advocate for better mental health treatment. We can raise funds for mental health education and suicide prevention programs.

I have never video blogged before. But I promised a few friends I would try to do it today. So I did. I hate it (of course who really likes to see themselves on camera), but I mean what I say here. And I want you to see it.

I’m talking to you. #youarebeautiful #youareloved #youarenotalone #stopsuicide

P.S. Today is the 1st Birthday of Band Back Together too! Check out my post: http://www.bandbacktogether.com/happy-birthday-band-world-suicide-prevention-day

And all of the other amazing birthday posts publishing all day today. Happy Birthday To The Band!
by · · Filed Under: Blogs, Charity Events, Mental Health, Mental Illness, PPD, Suicide · Tagged With: , , , ,
· 22 Comments

Comments

  1. Robin @ Farewell, Stranger
    Twitter:
    says:
    September 10, 2011 at 7:44 am

    You’re so awesome. Really, really proud of you.

    And you know what’s funny? Your hair is sort of almost the colour from your photoshopped pic. And it looks great!

    Love you. xo

    Reply
  2. Eileen says:
    September 10, 2011 at 10:20 am

    YOU ROCK MY WORLD!!! I love, love LOVE that you did this and I’m so proud to know you!! xoxo

    Reply
  3. Leighann says:
    September 11, 2011 at 11:03 am

    Looks GREAT!
    What a wonderful thing you have done!

    Reply
  4. Jessica says:
    September 13, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    You are so awesome for doing this! Love the blue hair.

    Reply
  5. Krissy
    Twitter:
    says:
    February 18, 2012 at 6:13 am

    I lost a family member to suicide as well. This is a really wonderful thing you’re doing.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Today was a good day | GreekMomma Today was a good day | Bold. Fierce. Educated. Determined to make a difference. says:
    September 10, 2011 at 10:55 pm

    [...] In the case of raising $1,000, they promised to put blue streaks in their hair. Why blue? Well, as Cristi explained on her blog; Why blue? Well, I made it up. It seemed appropriate. BLUE = SAD [...]

    Reply
  2. I Closed My Eyes & Stepped | Motherhood Unadorned says:
    September 11, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    [...] I just closed my eyes and went for no matter how strong the anxiety I felt. And it was amazing. You all rallied, the money was raised, and I got bright blue hair. ————–>I want Ronin to have great experiences too, even when [...]

    Reply
  3. #BlueBloggers Raising the Stakes for #SuicidePrevention « Charity Events « Thriftyninja says:
    September 14, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    [...] blue after raising over $1,600 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She’s a survivor of suicide and is very passionate about the cause, so much so she inspired others to join her effort and get blue streaks when she reached her goal. [...]

    Reply
  4. #BlueBloggers Raising the Stakes for #SuicidePrevention « Randomosity Blog says:
    September 14, 2011 at 7:45 pm

    [...] [...]

    Reply
  5. #BlueBloggers Raising the Stakes for #SuicidePrevention says:
    September 14, 2011 at 8:20 pm

    [...] hair blue after raising over $1,600 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She’s a survivor of suicide and is very passionate about the cause, so much so she inspired others to join her effort and get blue streaks when she reached her goal. [...]

    Reply
  6. #BlueBloggers Raising the Stakes for #SuicidePrevention | Unhappily Me says:
    September 15, 2011 at 2:13 am

    [...] dyed her hair blue after raising over $1,600 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She’s a survivor of suicide and is very passionate about the cause, so much so she inspired others to join her effort and get [...]

    Reply
  7. Tales From the Nursery » #BlueBloggers Raising the Stakes for #SuicidePrevention » Tales From the Nursery says:
    September 15, 2011 at 4:02 am

    [...] blue after raising over $1,600 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She’s a survivor of suicide and is very passionate about the cause, so much so she inspired others to join her effort and get blue streaks when she reached her goal. [...]

    Reply
  8. #BlueBloggers Raising the Stakes for #SuicidePrevention | punkrockmomma.com says:
    September 15, 2011 at 6:05 am

    [...] dyed her hair blue after raising over $1,600 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She’s a survivor of suicide and is very passionate about the cause, so much so she inspired others to join her effort and get [...]

    Reply
  9. #BlueBloggers Raising the Stakes for #SuicidePrevention says:
    September 15, 2011 at 6:19 am

    [...] blue after raising over $1,600 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She’s a survivor of suicide and is very passionate about the cause, so much so she inspired others to join her effort and get blue streaks when she reached her goal. [...]

    Reply
  10. I Took The #BlueBloggers Pledge To Dye My Hair Blue. All Blue. | Life With Levi says:
    September 15, 2011 at 12:03 pm

    [...] blue after raising over $1,600 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.She’s a survivor of suicide and is very passionate about the cause, so much so she’s inspired others to join her effort and get blue streaks when she reached her [...]

    Reply
  11. BlueBloggers Raising the Stakes for SuicidePrevention « TouchstoneZ says:
    September 15, 2011 at 4:56 pm

    [...] blue after raising over $1,600 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She’s a survivor of suicide and is very passionate about the cause, so much so she inspired others to join her effort and get blue streaks when she reached her goal. [...]

    Reply
  12. #BlueBloggers Raising the Stakes for #SuicidePrevention | Motherhood Unadorned says:
    September 15, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    [...] is over and my hair is already blue, think again my friends!My co-captain Tracie & I are both survivors of suicide and that just doesn’t go away. I’m very passionate about the cause.And I’m beyond thrilled to tell you we have been contacted by several other fabulous [...]

    Reply
  13. #BlueBloggers Raising the Stakes for #SuicidePrevention says:
    September 16, 2011 at 2:02 pm

    [...] dyed her hair blue after raising over $1,600 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She’s a survivor of suicide and is very passionate about the cause, so much so she inspired others to join her effort and get [...]

    Reply
  14. Calling All #MentalHealth & #SuicidePrevention Bloggers! #bluebloggers @MotherUnadorned | The Purposeful Practices Project says:
    September 18, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    [...] blue after raising over $1,600 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She’s a survivor of suicide and is very passionate about the cause, so much so she inspired others to join her effort and get blue streaks when she reached her goal. [...]

    Reply
  15. What I Thought Was Awesome This Week | Made More Beautiful says:
    September 24, 2011 at 5:11 pm

    [...] Wow. On This Day Of Suicide Prevention, I Remember from @motherunadornedSuicide Prevention Week Woohoo! Blue for World Suicide Prevention Day from @Calandro5I Don’t Have Answers, I Just Know How It Feels from @farewellstrangrSuicide [...]

    Reply
  16. Wordfull Wednesday: Bad Hair Day | GreekMomma Wordfull Wednesday: Bad Hair Day | Bold. Fierce. Educated. Determined to make a difference. says:
    September 28, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    [...] for Suicide Prevention. I was inspired by my friend Cristi from Motherhood Unadorned. Read her story here and my story [...]

    Reply
  17. Amazon Kindle Fire says:
    September 29, 2011 at 8:09 pm

    … Ellieadorn.com…

    [...] Read More here: ellieadorn.com/?p=3390 [...]…

    Reply

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