Team Joe Nee
Donation protected
On the morning of November 25th, 2013 - Joseph Thomas Nee passed away.
Joe was more than just my big brother, he was my very first best friend. To others he was a son, an uncle, a mentor, a companion, and a kind soul. Regardless of the relation at hand, he left a remarkable impact on every life he touched.
Joe’s energy was contagious in all that he did. He took pride in his heritage, his family, his friends, and position as foreman for Feeney Brothers Excavation. But his true passion was for skateboarding, writing, and music. In his short 27 years on this earth he lived a rather fulfilling life, by changing the ones around him.
He was the happiest person I have ever known, and his smile was bright enough to illuminate any room.
But my brother was 1 in 41,150 people in the United States to commit suicide in 2013. I refuse to allow his name to be remembered as just a statistic. He was so much more.
The past year and a half have been difficult to say the very least. It took me a long time to be able to swallow the words, “my brother committed suicide.” The fact that there was something out there that could cause someone I loved such overwhelming pain, frightened me. That ‘something’ is mental illness. It’s time we swallowed the harshness and fear of the topic, and started to talk about it. 1 in 4 people are affected by mental illness. It is a disease that does not discriminate, it attacks men and women, young and old, rich and poor. There are people suffering in silence, and it is our job to break that silence with a bang.
There is an organization known as The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention that is dedicated to breaking down the walls that surround mental illness, and bringing help to those in need. It is a tough battle, but it is one that no one should ever have to fight alone. The AFSP raises funds to fight the good fight in conquering mental illness – instead of letting mental illness conquer its victims. They are able to do so through events such as the Out of the Darkness Walk, which will be hosted in Boston on June 27th, 2015.
The Out of the Darkness Walk begins approximately around 7pm, at the time of sunset. It is a course of 18 miles which all participants walk throughout the night. It ends around 5am, at the time of sunrise. It promotes the message that every dark night turns into day. Its primary purpose is to prevent the inevitable by funding research for Suicide Prevention, create and distribute educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support the survivors of suicide loss.
Hindsight is always 20/20, and although I want to, I cannot turn back the clock on Joseph’s life. But by participating in the Out of the Darkness Walk this year, I will be able to spread his message. I will be able to spread the joy and love that I was fortunate enough to receive from my brother. I will also be able to spread the awareness as well as the prevention of suicide.
Joe had a way about him that made you feel alive. His spirit continues to live on through us, and it is our duty to spread his message. I can say for certainty that I was lucky to have Joe in my life, and I know that plenty of you could say just the same. I ask that you join me by donating what you can to this cause, please, do it for Joe. Do it for the lives he changed, and the ones that we have the potential to by participating in the Out of the Darkness Walk
(All proceeds will be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention , or AFSP, via the Out of the Darkness walk. The required donation to participate as a “Walker” in the event is $700 for a student. I’m currently a student at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. Due to the fact that I attend school out of state, I am incapable of fundraising in my home community for this cause at the moment. This is the simplest way of spreading the message and raising awareness about the event! Any support that can be given will not only be accepted but embraced.)
God Bless you.
Joe was more than just my big brother, he was my very first best friend. To others he was a son, an uncle, a mentor, a companion, and a kind soul. Regardless of the relation at hand, he left a remarkable impact on every life he touched.
Joe’s energy was contagious in all that he did. He took pride in his heritage, his family, his friends, and position as foreman for Feeney Brothers Excavation. But his true passion was for skateboarding, writing, and music. In his short 27 years on this earth he lived a rather fulfilling life, by changing the ones around him.
He was the happiest person I have ever known, and his smile was bright enough to illuminate any room.
But my brother was 1 in 41,150 people in the United States to commit suicide in 2013. I refuse to allow his name to be remembered as just a statistic. He was so much more.
The past year and a half have been difficult to say the very least. It took me a long time to be able to swallow the words, “my brother committed suicide.” The fact that there was something out there that could cause someone I loved such overwhelming pain, frightened me. That ‘something’ is mental illness. It’s time we swallowed the harshness and fear of the topic, and started to talk about it. 1 in 4 people are affected by mental illness. It is a disease that does not discriminate, it attacks men and women, young and old, rich and poor. There are people suffering in silence, and it is our job to break that silence with a bang.
There is an organization known as The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention that is dedicated to breaking down the walls that surround mental illness, and bringing help to those in need. It is a tough battle, but it is one that no one should ever have to fight alone. The AFSP raises funds to fight the good fight in conquering mental illness – instead of letting mental illness conquer its victims. They are able to do so through events such as the Out of the Darkness Walk, which will be hosted in Boston on June 27th, 2015.
The Out of the Darkness Walk begins approximately around 7pm, at the time of sunset. It is a course of 18 miles which all participants walk throughout the night. It ends around 5am, at the time of sunrise. It promotes the message that every dark night turns into day. Its primary purpose is to prevent the inevitable by funding research for Suicide Prevention, create and distribute educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support the survivors of suicide loss.
Hindsight is always 20/20, and although I want to, I cannot turn back the clock on Joseph’s life. But by participating in the Out of the Darkness Walk this year, I will be able to spread his message. I will be able to spread the joy and love that I was fortunate enough to receive from my brother. I will also be able to spread the awareness as well as the prevention of suicide.
Joe had a way about him that made you feel alive. His spirit continues to live on through us, and it is our duty to spread his message. I can say for certainty that I was lucky to have Joe in my life, and I know that plenty of you could say just the same. I ask that you join me by donating what you can to this cause, please, do it for Joe. Do it for the lives he changed, and the ones that we have the potential to by participating in the Out of the Darkness Walk
(All proceeds will be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention , or AFSP, via the Out of the Darkness walk. The required donation to participate as a “Walker” in the event is $700 for a student. I’m currently a student at Saint Joseph’s College of Maine. Due to the fact that I attend school out of state, I am incapable of fundraising in my home community for this cause at the moment. This is the simplest way of spreading the message and raising awareness about the event! Any support that can be given will not only be accepted but embraced.)
God Bless you.
Organizer
Michaela Nee
Organizer
Boston, MA