“There are some who bring light so great to the world that even after they have gone their light remains”. This fundraiser will support two programs that meant the world to Andrew: The Andrew Gelson Graham Graduate Fellowship program for outstanding MS and PhD students at the University of Colorado and the Ultimate Frisbee Team – “The Mamabird”.

My son Andrew was a victim of a targeted act of violence. His life was taken November 6, 2009 as a result of a botched robbery. It has been a long and difficult journey but after 13 ½ years of perseverance the man who murdered my son is finally going to trial. I don’t know what the result will be but I will be forever grateful to the police and the DA’s office for working so hard to try and get some measure of justice for Andrew. I have, over the years, learned to deal with the loss of my son but my life and that of my family’s will never be the same. Anyone who has lost a child knows the pain never goes away, you never forget, you just get used to the pain. It becomes part of who you are. I presently live by a quote from Winston Churchill “If you’re going through hell, keep going.”

It is important to understand who Andrew was in order to understand the motivation behind this fund raiser. I will share here some of the heartfelt tributes.

“Andrew was the kind of person we should all strive to be. Honest, caring, thoughtful, courageous, a man of integrity and character. A fellow graduate student shared that Andrew was a talented student, determined worker and exemplified the values that we all hold dear. Andrew was a moral and just individual, who strove to better himself and the world around him. Students of his capacity are rare, even at prestigious universities. This student believed that the fabric of our society and culture is the cumulative output of people like Andrew. We are better off due to the efforts of individuals like him, who follow the rules and who work to improve the lives of others. “

“Sometimes, people are praised in death for a character greater than they actually possessed but that is not the case with Andrew. Andrew truly was one of the most caring, humble and intelligent people I have ever known. His gentle influence of his peers made those around him better people. His absence is a loss for society.”

“I think Andrew’s legacy is one of commitment and valuing your relationships to the people around you. Whenever I see his number on the sleeve of my jersey it’s a constant reminder to not only give everything I have but that as a team we stand for more than just ourselves and our personal ambitions. His legacy reminds us that we work hard for ourselves and our friends, teammates and society as a whole. I will do everything in my power to honor his legacy and pass on his memory”

These sentiments have been voiced in letter after letter I received from professors, friends and teammates after Andrew’s passing. The shock of Andrew’s murder was deeply felt by all who personally knew him.

It was a privilege to be his mother and I will miss him until the day I take my last breath. Please donate if you can and if you cannot please spread the word. My son’s life mattered and I want to help continue his legacy. Thank you so much.

Mamabird Link

Warm Regards

Cyndi Gelston Graham