Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Pulling a The David Cook for Charity - TWLOHA

Remember when the Merry Pranksters of Mommy Wants Vodka got together and pulled awesome little pranks on celebrities, like Chef Jeffrey Adam "Duff" Goldman? Well, we're doing it again, but this time for a cause. Basically, instead of a celebrity, we're picking a charity and trying to drum up awareness by tricking that ol' Google algorithm. Hopefully, the charity I've chosen doesn't mind too much, because I think it's really important to tell people about them.

As you may have read here on my blog, my high school best friend, John, committed suicide. He was 16. Six.teen. I can't imagine the sadness a 16-year-old must have felt that would make him think suicide was the only way. I so often wish he'd had someone to talk to. Someone to offer him another path. Someone like To Write Love On Her Arms. TWLOHA, as it's often referred to by those in the know, is a non-profit organization that serves to provide hope and support to those struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA's mission is a thing of compassion and love. An excerpt: "You were created to love and be loved. You were meant to live life in relationship with other people, to know and be known. You need to know that your story is important and that you're part of a bigger story. You need to know that your life matters." (source).




TWLOHA has a comprehensive website offering facts about depression, suicide statistics, information about self-injury, and addiction. If you or someone you know is in need, TWLOHA provides a list of helplines.

To raise awareness, To Write Love on Her Arms sells TWLOHA shirts and has a TWLOHA Twitter as well as a To Write Love On Her Arms Facebook, which is updated with TWLOHA inspirational quotes each day. They also do TWLOHA speaking engagements.

TWLOHA could have helped my friend, John, and many others. it is my sincere hope that awareness is spread about this incredible and compassionate organization so that others don't have to lose their friend or family member.

For more information, please visit To Write Love On Her Arms and see what you can do to to spread their motto that "Love Is the Movement."

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UPDATE: Aunt Becky asked me to post the above on her new group blog Band Back Together and I'm truly honored. I combined the above with this post about my dear friend, John, and you can find it here.

6 comments:

Tracy said...

That is so sad and I'm sure The Dave Cook would agree. But here's to hoping that TWLOHA continues to spread the love.

http://mellamotracy.blogspot.com/2010/09/pulling-david-cook-for-charity-afs.html

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry about your friend. I think TWLOHA is a fantastic cause and hope that this brings more attention to them. (((hugs)))

If you wanna share the love, check out where I pull a The David Cook for Group B Strep International at http://janasthinkingplace.com/2010/09/pulling-a-the-david-cook-for-charity-group-b-strep-international/

donatelli98 said...

This is a great way to spread the word!

Aunt Becky said...

Beautiful. And I'm actually crying. This is rare, and what a gorgeous organization. Will you do me a favor? Can you post this on Band Back Together? Please? I'd love to support this organization.

Brooke said...

I'd be happy to, Becky. Thanks for the support.

Kristin said...

What a beautiful tribute to your friend and an incredible organization. To Write Love On Her Arms sounds like an amazing organization and TWLOHA is truly worthy of you pulling a The David Cook for them.

Stop by and check out my efforts at pulling a The David Cook for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.