Dear Friends and Family:

As many of you know, I began working for On Belay Climbing and Outdoor Education recently.  On Belay is a fundraising partner to LET's - Let Erase The Stigma, a non profit organization that raises awareness of mental health issues for teens. I'll be running the Hollywood Half Marathon coming up on April 7, 2011.  I’m going to run as a member of Team LETS!

Every time we see a teen suicide, bullying incident, eating disorder, or youth tragedy in the news, it breaks someone’s heart--like yours or mine--as we wonder, how can we help?  But far more telling than what we see in the headlines is what remains unspoken.  One family is thinking, “We never saw this coming.”  One teacher is thinking, “That happened here, too.”  One friend is thinking, “I hope it wasn’t my fault.”  One leader is thinking, “Good thing we don’t have those problems here.”  One health care provider is thinking, “We did the best we could.”  And thousands of kids are thinking, “I’m going through the same thing...but I can’t tell anyone.”  

Mental health concerns touch us all in some way--whether through a personal experience, through a friend or family member, or through a kid we care about.  Yet stigma is keeping kids from talking about these issues from the start, and stigma is stopping kids from asking for help.  Let’s change that.  Let’s Erase the Stigma Educational Foundation (LETS) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) children’s charity dedicated to changing the perception of mental illness through youth-centered educational programs, mentoring opportunities, and research possibilities.  I want to support this important cause in my race.  Will you please join me by making a tax-deductible donation to LETS?

As a charity for kids, LETS changes the perception of mental illness through youth-centered educational programs that raise youth interest in mental health where previously there has been little involvement.  LETS youth share mental health education through creative, fun, student-led initiatives that prioritize prevention and early education so that kids can improve mental health for every generation.  Today LETS needs our support to bring new LETS Clubs to middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities; research initiatives to learn the best ways to help kids erase stigma; hold conferences, summits, and symposiums for young people to have fun while learning about and discussing the stigma of mental illness; provide outreach opportunities for community service and education; and create many more stigma-erasing projects like a youth speakers program.

Just as this will be a long race, LETS youth are also in a difficult race: to erase the stigma that shames and silences people with mental illness, who need support instead of stigma.  Your support will mean a lot to me and make a big difference to LETS kids and youth.  To share your support and help me cross the finish line, please donate to my cause on my fundraising page.

Thank you for considering my sponsorship request.  I look forward to crossing the finish line as a member of Team LETS!