This week has been really, really tough, John.
Tuesday should have been my sweet little Daniel’s first day of high school orientation. I woke up that day and silently hoped that he was still alive. I thought to myself, "Please tell me that Daniel is still in his room down the hall." Milestones like the beginning of a new school year are especially hard, but every single morning, I have to reacquaint myself with the horrible reality that he's never coming back.
It leaves me breathless.
That's why I've dedicated my life to preventing any other parent from feeling this pain. I have to. I throw all of myself into my work, even if it means reliving the nightmare of Daniel's murder every day.
Right now, that means making sure we reach our back-to-school funding goal before midnight – but we're still short. With children heading back to school in person and online, our lifesaving work can’t slow down – and I’m worried we might not be able to move fast enough to prevent the next tragedy. So please, before you go to sleep tonight, I want to personally ask: Will you donate now to help us protect more children from gun violence this school year?
Daniel’s absence tears us apart that much more during times like this. He should be getting ready for his first year of high school but will never get the chance. I don’t want any other parent to feel this indescribable pain.
So as more lives are lost to gun violence, as more schools reopen and as more reports of children in imminent danger come in each day during the pandemic, our work to prevent tragedies is as important as ever. That’s why your support means so much, and why we cannot slow down now. I know with you by my side, we can keep other children safe from gun violence.
Thank you for all you do – I couldn't honor Daniel’s too-short life without you.
Mark Barden (Daniel's father)
