SpeakUp News November 2023

November 2023

Paying Attention to the Mental Health of Student-Athletes

Madison Holleran. Lauren Bernett. Katie Meyer. Sarah Shulze. Morgan Rodgers.

If those names are not recognizable to you, a quick Google search will yield photos of bright, beautiful, and successful collegiate athletes. It will also reveal to you that they all died by suicide. Each of their stories is heart-breaking and tragic. While I name five here, there are countless others. As a mom of three girls, two of whom are teenage athletes, these five beautiful souls caught my attention and my collective breath – this could be us - it could be anyone’s daughter.

How did we get here? How did balancing athletics, academics, and the demands of everyday life become so overwhelming that in a single, desperate moment, each of these bright stars extinguished...

Message from Grace Gallagher Executive Director, CKG Foundation

International Stress Awareness Day is the first Wednesday in November every year. This day aims to raise awareness about stress and the impacts of stress. Not all stress is bad. Some stress can be quite motivating. Having your body in a chronic state of stress can negatively affect our mental and physical health. To honor this day, reflect on activities you enjoy that are stress relievers. We may not be able to control the stress in our lives, but we can control our relationship to it, the power we give it. Daily practice of what rids us of negative energy and builds endorphins are unique to each individual.

So where to begin in alleviating the negative impacts of stress? Become aware....

Mental Health Education

Conversations with CKG: Teen Athletes and Mental Health

Wednesday, November 8, at 7pm, via Zoom.

Teen athletes face a wealth of pressure as they navigate sports training and performance alongside academics, relationships, and everyday teenage life. We are honored to be joined by guests from Morgan's Message including Morgan's mother, Dona Rodgers, for a conversation surrounding the weight of expectations, creating balance, and encouraging mental healthcare. We will share lived experience as we discuss the struggles encountered by teen athletes and how we as caregivers can support them on their mental health journeys.

Registration is open and is free.

Timely & Notable

Don't Miss This!

CKG Participates in Community Fundraisers

We look forward to participating in several fundraisers this month and hope you will take part in the fun!

M4K RVA - Ongoing throughout November

Krispy Kreme - Ongoing through Dec. 19th

Giving Tuesday - November 28th

CKG Spotlight

Brandon Guyer

In 2021, during the pandemic, CKG hosted a live conversation with professional baseball player, Brandon Guyer. The topic was Mental Health and Mindfulness for Teens in Sports and Life. Given the feature content of November's SpeakUp News and the upcoming Conversations with CKG on November 8, we wanted to republish a link to that rich discussion.

SpeakUp5k

In case you missed it! The 10th SpeakUp5k was a huge success, thank you to everyone who participated, sponsored, volunteered, fundraised, and donated. You are the reason CKG continues to provide free programs to teens. Let's continue to SpeakUp for teen mental health.

SpeakUp5k Survey- if you were a 2023 participant and have not had a chance to complete the survey, there is still time. We love hearing from you!

Post-Race Survey

Kroger Community Rewards

A simple way to make your spending count for good!

Do you find yourself shopping at Kroger often? Give back to CKG while you do by enrolling in Kroger Community Rewards. This program makes fundraising easy by donating to local organizations based on the shopping you do every day. Once you link your Card to the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation, all you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Shopper’s Card.

Enroll Today

You Are Not Alone. Resources Are Available.

Mental Health Resources

Cameron K. Gallagher Mental Health Resource Center

Our Mission

To fulfill Cameron's dream and legacy by being a positive force that works to cultivate awareness and understanding of teen depression anxiety.

The CKG Foundation is qualified as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code: Tax ID 46-5172019. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

3200 Rockbridge Street, Suite 102

Richmond, VA 23230

info@ckgfoundation.org

www.ckgfoundation.org