Do It for Hunter

Suicide Awareness Prevention

Do It For Hunter

Dedicated to Suicide

Awareness and Prevention

Let’s work Together to Strengthen Our Communities and Change the statistics

We are a grassroots group of family and friends working together, working local, with a goal to save a life.

Meet Our Volunteer Board

Let’s Make Things Happen

Hunter was the most normal 18 year old there was. There was no warning, no blaring signs, he just had a bad moment that sparked a lot of feelings he was holding in, things he couldn’t, wouldn’t talk about, and we lost him to suicide. That’s the story.

We had the choice. Be silent, or do something. We decided as a group of friends and family to do something, to do it for Hunter.

Suicide is a community problem. It’s too easy to shove it under a rug, to dismiss it as “that would never happen in my family.” It can. But we need to stay a step ahead because it’s an invisible disease of the mind. As a community we need to insure our youth know where they can turn, how to reach out for help, and they need the tools at a young age so that they know what to do when their brain lies to them and tells them they don’t matter.

Mr. Rogers said, “Look for the Helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” That’s what we believe too. And to take it a step further, we ALL can be helpers. Instead of waiting for someone else to reach out to you, you reach in to someone who may be struggling. Thank you to all our volunteers, and to those who believe in what we do. We do it for Hunter and for everyone who needs to be reminded that they matter.

988 Lifeline Stickers on All Brevard Public Schools Laptops

I had a wish that every kid’s laptop had a You Matter sticker on it. Brevard Public Schools took a giant step in supporting our You Matter movement by allowing us to do it! Designed by a former student and friend, now all BPS student laptops in grades 6-12 have a You Matter 988 Lifeline sticker. Thank you for making my wish come true, but most importantly, thank you for saving a life.

UCF Mom Hugs Day

A simple hug….human connection….and a smile, that’s what Mom Hugs Day is all about. Our “Mom Squad” grew to 50 moms who spread out on the UCF campus and dished out smiles and hugs, and a few tears. These young adults gave us back more than we gave. It was epic, and so meaningful, and the best day of the year for us!

FAU Mom Hugs Day

Thanks to our Mom Squad for all their help spreading love and mom hugs to the students at Florida Atlantic University Boca Campus! Arranged by Abbie Shepard who started the FAU Do It For Hunter Club at FAU, we surprised the students as they traveled the Breezeway. They were pleasantly surprised to have many moms ready willing and able to share a hug! We love our college students and know they may be missing their moms, so here we are!

You Matter Day 2025

What a fun day! Thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy the day with us for our 4th Annual You Matter Day! Many thanks to our sponsors, donors, the Space Coast Jeep Club, Dixie Cruisers and all the resources and schools and more who helped make the day impactful for our island. 69 runners and walkers kicked off the day with the Mustang Mile. The message for the day? YOU MATTER! Our young people especially need to be reminded of this. We hope this day positively affected just one life. That’s our goal.

5K Fun Run

Thanks to Ty Pope, Senior at Edgewood Jr. Sr. High School, for dedicating his Senior Project to Do It For Hunter. He organized a 5K Fun Run to raise funds for a suicide awareness bench at his school. 107 people registered and enjoyed a beautiful morning in Viera at Urban Prime Marketplace. While doing so, he brought awareness to suicide and mental health. Thank you Ty for your hard work, perseverance, and heart.

Encore Performance Company Dances and Donates

Hundreds of hours went into learning the show A Dance Beyond the Reef. These dancers from Encore Performance Company in Merritt Island poured their heart into this performance, which included singing, acting and dancing. It was not only beyond the reef, but BEYOND AMAZING! They donated half of all money raised from this show to Do It For Hunter, amounting to over $6,000! They chose us for their charity this year out of love and the work that we do right here in our community. I’m STILL blown away. Thank you does not say enough to all the people who dedicated so much time and talent. But thank you from our hearts.

FAU Honors Campus Forms Do It For Hunter Club

Abbie Sheppard graduated from Edgewood Jr. Sr. High and is currently studying neuroscience and Mathematics as part of a BS/MD program at the FAU Honors College in Jupiter, FL. On top of her strenuous college classes, she volunteers as a crisis counselor on the 988 Crisis Text Line. Abbie started the Do It For Hunter Club at FAU to educate her local community about the topic of suicide and mental health. She supports our mission of spreading awareness of the 988 suicide hotline as a method that could someday save a life. More than 30 students so far have signed up for the club which plans to have activities around suicide awareness and mental health for the students. And she is planning an on-campus You Matter event for the students at FAU. How awesome is THAT!

“You Matter Night at Mustang Stadium

Thanks to everyone who came out to support our “Purple Out” for suicide awareness at the O-Dome. From the cheerleaders decked out in purple, to the football players with purple ribbons on their helmets, your support is always appreciated beyond words. We passed out hundreds of stickers and bracelets to attendees, and the cheer squad shared some very cool purple sunglasses too! Thank you always for your support and for helping us spread the You Matter message.

“You Matter” message

We just keep ordering the stickers and bracelets and handing them out for FREE because the young people love them! We are able to do this because of our generous donors. Ask about getting some for your class or organization.

Free Stickers & Bracelets

Donate Today and Be a Part of Saving A Life

Do It for Hunter hosts “You Matter” events throughout Merritt Island and the surrounding communities. We have distributed thousands of our signature teal bracelets and round “You Matter” stickers with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number. Look for our stickers everywhere! (It’s kinda like a scavenger hunt!) We’ve spread awareness by participating in the Merritt Island Christmas Parade, we partner with Sources of Strength at MIHS, and we’ve purchased suicide awareness benches for Merritt Island High and all four campuses of Eastern Florida State College. But we have SO MUCH more to do. It’s all about saving just one life. It matters.

2026 Goals:

Purchase suicide awareness benches for at least five high schools
Offer Free Mom Hugs Day at additional colleges
Host Annual “You Matter” day in Merritt Island
Distribute free stickers and bracelets to youth
Participate in the Merritt Island Christmas Parade
Donate via Venmo, gofundme, PayPal with debit or credit card, or by check made payable to Do It For Hunter, Inc, (mail to 1655 Yates Dr. Merritt Island, FL 32952)

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