This week is always the hardest for me, John. Grief does not always look the same, but this year I feel it a little more keenly. 

It’s been 19 years since my mom was murdered. This day in 2003, she answered the door of my parents’ home and was shot three times. I was only 26 and my life, and my family’s, changed forever – it was impossible to know what to do next. 

For many years after my mom was murdered, I could only focus on trying to do the next right thing. So I ran, putting one foot in front of the other and moving forward. I ran for a decade, until they finally convicted the man who killed my mom; and then I ran a whole marathon. I ran for my mom — for all the memories we shared and all the ones stolen. I ran for my two kids, the grandchildren she never had a chance to meet. I ran for the hope that one day there would be fewer of us with this particular hole in our hearts. 

Working alongside the other survivors that lead at Brady helps me continue. It doesn’t make me miss my mom less, but I know that we are making a difference and ensuring that other families do not go through the same tragedy as mine did. It is during these particularly hard times of the year that I am most grateful for the steadfast support of our activists, like you, John. This community is dedicated and tenacious and I know you won’t give up until this country is safe from gun violence.

So today, if you can, I’m asking you to donate to Brady in honor of my mom’s life and all of those we’ve lost far too early to our nation’s gun violence epidemic. Your support means that we can continue our lifesaving work at Brady: Passing common sense gun violence prevention legislation, defeating the gun lobby in court, to stop the next tragedy and to protect each and every community.

Thank you, John, for continuing to answer our call. For continuing to show up. It means so much to me to have you with us. 

Liz Dunning
Gun Violence Survivor

Vice President, Development