On July 13th, 2008 Michelle Rivera's world was struck by tragedy. Her sixteen year old daughter and Widefield High student, Sammi died playing a game. Not a sport or organized activity, but something known as “The Choking Game”. A thirteen year old from West Jr. High School also lost his life recently playing this “game”.
The game amounts to choking oneself, often with the help of others, in order to experience a kind of euphoria that comes from near strangulation. Sometimes it’s taken too far, or someone slips or trips or just waits too long to stop and people die. To make matters worse, such deaths are often ruled suicides, as no one wants to step forward and say “oh yeah, we were playing the choking game.” As a result the warnings don’t go out.
Michelle wants to do everything she can to prevent other parents from having to experience the anguish she’s been through. She is in the process of setting up a website and a non-profit organization aimed at educating parents, teachers, public safety officials and students about the obvious dangers of what some consider to be a harmless activity as well as the warning signs that could indicate a child is participating in such “games”.
Michelle has set up a fund in her daughter’s name: Samantha Marquez, at TCF Bank. She has also put together a presentation on The Choking Game which she will gladly share with any group or organization willing to listen. She is not an experienced non-profit executive or fund raiser and would greatly appreciate any assistance, be it funding, time, expertise and/or advice.
If you can help, you can contact Michelle at: 719-358-0651 or mail PO Box 31401 Colorado Springs, CO 80911.
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