Larry and Marian McCord founded CHADS Coalition in memory of their son Chad. He was 18 years old when he took his life on April 15, 2004. In October 2003, he was diagnosed with depression and an anxiety disorder. Several months later he was diagnosed with OCD (obsessing to hurt himself) and rapid cycling Bipolar Disorder.

As Chad underwent his treatment, he vowed that after he got better he wanted to make a difference in peoples lives by bringing mental illness out of the closet. After he got better, he said he wanted to stand in front of the school assembly and say, Hi, my name is Chad McCord
and I suffer from depression.

He commented, “If I had cancer, students would rally around me and make posters and give me a hero’s welcome when I came back to school. But since I have a mental illness the students will shy away from me. They will think I am weird, and not want to be around me.”

Chad was not your ordinary teenager. He was an Eagle Scout. He was in the top 15% of his class at Oakville High School with almost 20 college credits. He was a church youth group retreat leader. He was an outstanding athlete. He earned 5 “most something” plaque awards for cross country, soccer and track teams in two and a half years of high school sports. He was nominated for and attended a week long leadership program in Washington DC. As a volunteer, he spent many hours as a coach and worker for the Kirkwood Track Club. He was the assistant coach for his church’s CYC track team the last 4 years. In his last few months of his life he volunteered at Ride On St. Louis, a horse therapy program for physically challenged kids.

Unfortunately, Chad left this world before fulfilling his dream to increase awareness and acceptance of mental illness. As Chad’s parents, the McCords have vowed to be Chads Voice!

Welcome to Kids Walking For Kids!
To all participants, donors, supporters and volunteers. Our KWK Celebration last night was just awesome, unbelievable!! We just wanted to send out a quick



And share some of our results with you.
3 month long event 30 active committee members made it all possible1000s of volunteer hours 15 presentations leading up to the Celebration Luminary Walk
1600 teenagers at the presentations
75 kids felt they or a friend were at risk and are now in the process of being helped, $75,000 of donations, 380 pre-registered walkers, 300 walk-ins, 900 donors 170 Luminaries to honor a loved one along the walk, 6 platinum corporate sponsors ($5000), 6 gold corporate sponsors ($1000)

Top 10 teams:
Dog-Gone-It Stop Suicide - $6,437.42
Show Me The Money - $5,956.24
The LA Oranges - $5,884.20
Cappy's Team - $4,419.00
Helping Hearts - $3,820.00
Megan's Polka Dot's - 1 - $3,697.50
Make a Difference - $2,432.00
Pinkys - $1,700.25
BISESI'S BOUNCE BACK! - $1,424.00
SOS (Stomp out Suicide) - $1,323.00

Top Ten Individuals inline for the individual prizes.
Rasmussen, Lori - $4,419.00
Ross, Alice - $4,348.24
McCord, Brandon - $3,965.79
Auer, Kelly - $2,457.50
Morgan, Pam - $2,432.00
Roberts, Kaley - $2,004.00
Meier, Tina - $1,496.00
Key, Angie - $1,424.00
Hurst, Mitzi - $1,360.50
Reed, Nicki - $1,242.00

The Spirit Award went to Team Taylor
The Founders Award went to LA Oranges.

You have helped save a teenager’s life

CHADS Coalition will award prizes to the teams and individuals who raise the most money to fund adolescent depression research.

In addition, a special Founder’s Prize will be awarded by Larry and Marian McCord to the team that demonstrates the most heart and spirit at the Kids Walking for Kids event on May 12.

Team Prizes
First Place Team – Your own Hot 104.1 party, valued at $8000!
Second Place Team – ipod nano for each team member (up to 15) donated by R&S Marketing
Third Place Team -- $50 Slackers gift certificate for each team member (up to 15), donated by Slackers Music & More
Fourth Place Team – mini digital spy camera for each member (up to 15), donated by www.unilution.com
Fifth Place Team – Six Flags pass for each member (up to 15
Sixth Place Team – Raging Rivers Water Park pass for each member (up to 15)
Individual Prizes: Top 10 individuals will receive A Pepsi Back Pack filled with Pepsi “stuff” valued at $250 and a case of Pepsi product per month for a year!
Raise $5000 and get – 80 gigabyte video ipod donated by CHADS Coalition
Raise $2500 and get– a $100 gift certificate to be announced
Raise $500 and get – Kids Walking for Kids hoodie
Raise $100 and get -- Kids Walking for Kids T-shirt
Prize Rules
~ In order to count towards eligible prize totals, donations must be received by CHADS Coalition by May 11 at 5:00 p.m.
~ Additional donations may be turned in at the event on May 12, but those donations will not count towards prize totals
~ Each participant is required to raise a minimum of $25.
~ Suggested fund-raising amount is $150
~ In order to be eligible for the first place team prize, teams must raise $10,000

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