our inspiration
After the suicide of a peer, close friend, and brother, Edward, these students decided to shape their grief into action. They got together and started Project Eddie with DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) where they competed in marketing by selling bracelets. They spent hours of work designing, ordering, marketing, and selling the blue and purple bracelets, marked with the group name and suicide hotline number. They also paired with ChangeDirection NH to create t-shirts with the 5 signs of mental illness, which they sold with the bracelets. In 2018, their hard work was recognized when Project Eddie earned first place in Community Service Projects at the DECA Career Development Conference. However, the group’s work was far from done. Mental illness and suicide education was still needed in our high schools and community. Thus, they sought out to form an official non-profit group dedicated to the cause that would live on…
about Miasp
M.I.A.S.P., or Mental Illness Awareness and Suicide Prevention, is the non-profit group that was created to extend their cause. Formed in August 2018, this group made steps to attain official non-profit status with the state of New Hampshire. They also set a goal to raise $20,000 in one year. The Board of Directors are Chloe Rich, Jack Sharpe, and Isabelle Laizure (for more details on the board, see “Who We Are”). By January 2019, from bracelet sales and donation alone, the group had already raised just over $4,000 and planned our First Annual Edward Chambers 10/10 Relay Challenge, with a fundraising goal of $10,000. In May of 2019, M.I.A.S.P. exceeded their fundraising goal of $10,000 for the First Annual Edward Chambers 10/10 Relay Challenge, raising just over $25,000 in their first fiscal year.
Future plans
We plan to continue our annual relay event and add many more along the way. Through close partnership with NAMI, mental health facilities, community services, corporations, and businesses, we will educate our schools and families about identifying, preventing, and getting support for mental illnesses and those that suffer from them. As a product, we hope to prevent suicides, especially of the youth, in our state. We also made a scholarship in dedication of Edward Chambers. Our 2022-2023 scholarship winners were Kathryn O’Connor and Gabe Staples. Congratulations to both of you, you’re both inspiring!