Cosplay for Hope is excited to announce their official walk debut at the UCM Out of the Darkness campus walk on April 21, according to a press release sent by April Roller, founder of the organization.
Cosplay for Hope is a newly-formed mental health awareness and suicide prevention non-profit organization. Roller and Erica Williams, co-founder, formed the idea shortly after a walk for suicide prevention in September 2016, according to the release.
After witnessing the interaction between the cosplayers Kisuke Urahara from Bleach and Yuna from Final Fantasy and other participants, Roller and Williams searched for hashtags that related to the local cosplay community to see if anyone would be willing to volunteer their time at a 2017 walk for suicide prevention. Cosplayers jumped at the chance to participate with 12 responding to the volunteer request, according to the release.
The walk raised nearly $10,000 due to cosplayer support and participant reactions inspired an independent research study that focused on cosplay as a coping mechanism, and how being part of a fandom is beneficial to a person’s mental health. The research study was presented as mental health panels at Planet ComiCon in Kansas City in February 2018 and Stealth Con at UCM in April 2018.
Due to the response at both mental health panels as the request from supporters, Cosplay for a Cause was redesigned and launched as Cosplay for Hope. Six individuals are helping form the organization including founders Roller, Williams, and board members, Kira Burton, Megan Deaver, Kat Embrey and Hannah Melton.
People can purchase an official non-profit launch t-shirt through CustomInk for $22. Proceeds from the Cosplay for Hope bake sale and donations will support the cause.
Once fully formed, the organization will use the funds to assist with mental health treatment, prescription copays, support groups and research and education initiatives, according to the release.
The Cosplay for Hope mission: “We wish to form a sense of community that offers compassion and equality for those who seek or want support through a network of mental health and suicide prevention activists and advocates. We also hope to save and change lives using cosplay and fandom families through inclusive and supportive collaboration for mental health awareness and suicide prevention efforts.”
Cosplay for Hope can be located online at https://www.facebook.com/CosplayForHope/
