Carol Todd is hoping to spread positivity 365 days a year, and with a small group of friends and supporters plus the Amanda Todd Legacy Society, the Port Coquitlam mom may just achieve her goal.
Each day for the past year, a graphic message promoting #positivity2018 is being created and posted on Instagram and, beginning Oct. 1, the second annual Amanda’s Legacy 2018 Online Auction will be held to raise funds for programs supporting youth.
“I can’t sit there and not have anything going on,” said Todd, whose daughter committed suicide Oct. 10, 2012, after posting a video online about being bullied. "I need to know that there’s something that is positive that is changing the landscape and the profile out there."
Oct. 10 is now recognized as World Mental Health Day. The online auction running Oct. 1 to 15 in memory of Amanda will raise funds for programs that support youth and their families.
“Her story is still being shared and the issues she raised [with her video] are still relevant today,” said Todd, who noted concerns about cyberbullying and stress and anxiety among youth are a growing concern. “The goal is to raise some funds to maintain the legacy."
Last year, the auction raised $5,000 and the goal is to raise a similar amount or more for projects such as a music therapy scholarship at Douglas College; a program called Get Out, Unplug to Connect that connects kids 11 to 18 with nature; and the Enchantment Project, which provides financial support to School District 43 students celebrating grad.
As well, a grief retreat that would support parents who have lost children to tragic circumstances, such as suicide, is on the wish-list for startup funds.
This year, proceeds from some of the auction item will also help raise funds for the Melaina Paisley Arts Scholarship in memory of a Langley teen who committed suicide in April and whose mom Todd connected with.
“When you bid on those items, those funds will go to Melaina’s scholarship,” Todd said.
As of last week, more than 156 items were available on the online donation web page, from restaurant gift certificates to experiences, artwork and even an iPad donated by Telus. Todd said she hopes people will spend time exploring the donations, many from local businesses, before bidding starts.
The list of items being added is growing daily and you can find out more at www.amandatoddlegacy.org under the Amanda’s Legacy 2018 Online Auction Tab.
In addition to obtaining donations for the online auction, Todd is learning how to be a crisis volunteer to support youth who seek help via text. The course is a challenging one but also helpful in that Todd is learning about the kind of questions people in crisis will ask and how to support them.
“There are so many people in this cohort [doing the training], If we had more people, it would have helped Amanda,” said Todd.
She is also promoting a petition to have Canada declare Oct. 10 World Mental Health Day, and Light Up Purple, when people are encouraged to wear or “light up purple” in support of mental health. For more information, visit www.amandatoddlegacy.org.
– Diane Strandberg, Tri-City News
