3405...Do It For Daron

Daron is Daron Richardson, the 14 year old daughter of Luke Richardson, an Ottawa Senator coach, who tragically took her life in the latter stages of 2010.

The Carleton Ravens hockey team is stepping up to the plate tonight and paying tribute to her.

Here is a cut and paste from the sports PR people at Carleton:

Women’s Hockey

Ravens Do It For Daron at the Ice House



The Carleton University Ravens women’s hockey team will not only be lacing up for a win on the ice February 12, but also to honour Daron Richardson, a competitive hockey player who tragically took her own life and brought awareness to the seriousness of youth mental illness.



Daughter of former NHL hockey player and Ottawa Senators assistant coach Luke Richardson, Daron died on November 13, 2010 at just 14 years of age.



To honour Daron, the Ravens will be selling tickets for an autographed Team Canada women's Olympic jersey. Purple wrist bands (Daron’s favourite colour) will also be sold. Fifty per cent of the profits will be donated to the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre.

Daron’s legacy now lives on through the Daron Richardson Fund and Do It For Daron (D.I.F.D.), an organization formed to create awareness, raise funds and inspire conversations about youth mental health.



Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time through a family member, friend or colleague, however for many, it is an unspoken illness. With D.I.F.D., the Richardson family hopes to increase the conversation about mental health and suicide and make the difference in the lives of others.



On February 8, several schools, hockey teams and those in the business community will wear purple and pledge their support to the Daron Richardson Fund. Entitled Purple Pledge Day, February 8 marks what would have been Daron's 15th birthday.



“We chose to honour Daron to bring awareness to mental health and the importance of speaking about it,” says Ravens head coach Shelley Coolidge.



The February 12 game was chosen to create increased awareness with a larger audience. The Ravens will be hosting the Concordia University Stingers at 2 p.m. in the Ice House.



For further information on CU Ravens Recreation & Athletics contact Christina Atallah at 613-293-5368 email: christina_atallah@carleton.ca

www.goravens.ca

All goes down N O W.

WFDS