It’s May….

May has always been my favorite month of the year - my wedding anniversary is May 4th, my birthday is May 5th and it is finally warm out. But I have been dreading May for obvious reasons this year.

I’ve been trying to pull myself out of this grief funk I have been in for the past few weeks and thought if I can turn the anniversary of Chris’s suicide into something good, it would give me something to look forward to instead of dread.

That is why I have decided to launch The Chris LaCourciere Memorial Fundraiser.

My goal is to raise as much as possible by 5/29/25 so that my sister and I will be able to donate to a few special causes in his name on the anniversary of his suicide.

There are a few local organizations that really stepped up in our time of need, and I would love to be able to give back to them.

First, Perfectly Imperfect Pups in Wake Forest, NC, was able to take in 8 puppies within 12 hours of my brother's death. They not only took all the pups, but they also made sure they were healthy and found them loving furever homes.

Next, Sunshine Farm and Animal Sanctuary in Wendell lovingly took in the surprise chicks I found in the shed. Olivia is a beautiful human and has rescued a variety of farm animals that live at the sanctuary.

A wonderful woman, Rani, was such a blessing and was able to rehome Chris's cats that he loved so much. I know Rani does a lot to help local kitties in need of new homes, and I would love to be able to donate to a cat rescue of her choice.

And finally, as we all know, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and I would be amiss not to recognize the irony of Chris taking his life in May. That is just like him to do something like that. I would like to support ProjectBUILT. ProjectBUILT is a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting the construction workforce. They provide mental health support and tools, create and foster strong communities, and provide resources for workers and their loved ones. Because no one should struggle in silence.

I know this is a big ask, but even a $5 donation would be amazing. I also know this is a very selfish ask—by donating to these organizations in my brother's name, I am hoping to bring some good from his death. He was by no means perfect, but we love him and miss him deeply every day.

I have set up a GoFundMe page for anyone who would like to donate for my birthday or Memory of Chris for Mental Health Awareness Month. Please share as you see fit. And thank you ahead of time for all the love and generosity you have shown. I continued to be humbled and impressed by how many people across the world read our blog. That means so much to us.