Ashley Campbell

My son, Miles Phipps, lost his life on November 4, 2025 due to persistent bullying for being different. He was only 15 years old. No one should ever be chastised for being themselves. I’m setting up an outreach project in his name to help others who suffered like he did…and raise awareness. I am getting more yard signs made, along with several shirt designs, stickers and buttons. All profits and donations will go towards mental health efforts through talk therapy, musical instruments and bicycles. I don’t want anyone to ever forget the spectacular human he was or the horrific story that brought us here. His name is Miles. His story was first recognized because he posted the conversation he had with his substitute teacher the day before he took his life. The teacher said “Quiet ladies”. Miles replied “But Imma Dude”. And she replied “I can call you whatever I want to, Miles.” He never again walked into school. I believe this was the final nail in the coffin, but not the sole reason. He’d been bullied most of his life for being different. He was always unique, brave, and unapologetically himself.  I am trying to turn an impossible situation and my grief into a plea of awareness. Miles wrote music to help people, and would go far out of his way to help someone who needed it. Therefore, I’m pushing forward in his name trying to create change so no other parent or child has to feel the way we did. No one should feel like they don’t belong simply for being themselves. …Everyone’s life is important regardless of race, sexuality, gender and religion. Miles was transgender, but more importantly he was a kind, compassionate, funny, brave, intelligent and a good human. It shouldn’t matter if he was binary. Miles was also a talented musican, he played guitar and started his own Spotify under the artist name Muted_Miles. He also was an active member of the Dream Team, a group of bicyclists made up of teens and mentors that train and complete RAGBRAI (a bicycle ride that crosses the entire state of Iowa in a week). He also did cosplay,   skateboarding, chess club, and so much more… The outreach project is a multifaceted fund. We plan to use the first part of donations towards the Music for Miles Fund. He had a sign that said, “Where words fail, music speaks…” and it was very true for him. Miles was not great at communicating feelings except through his music. His guitar (and bicycle) got him through his worst (and best) moments. Therefore, we would like to purchase 10 starter instruments that could aid kids during their mental health journey. Additional funds will be donated for talk therapy under the Miles Phipps Scholarship Fund. I have spoken with Prism Therapy, a new Des Moines based office that is LGBTQ friendly and affirming. They offer a unique and welcoming perspective to the community. It will be there to aid individuals who that would otherwise not be able to afford therapy.  Later this year we plan to put together a walk/ride to raise awareness and continued funds under Miles for Miles. That’ll hopefully enable us to purchase a few bicycles for kids. There’s nothing more healing than exercise and wind therapy to help clear your mind. I will be posting about it once the dates are set, and details hammered out. I want to thank you all for all the kind words and continued support. I wish Miles understood the shear impact he had on people and the amount of support he had out there. Hopefully through his name and story we can get others that might be struggling, know they have a village…and help others understand that words matter. We don’t have to agree to be kind. His name is Miles.  He was unconditionally and irrevocably loved. Be kind.  *if you would rather Venmo to avoid fees, please add a memo for Miles. Venmo: @Ashley-Campbell-515   #hisnameismiles #kindnessformiles #muted_miles #endbullying