Dear Parents and Teachers

I just returned from Mississippi where I led a team of 22 volunteers, men, women, and children, to do relief work in D'Iberville and Biloxi. I will tell you more about that soon, but today I must tell you about the funeral that we missed while we were gone.

Two weeks ago an 11 year old girl died tragically, and accidentally, in our town. She attended the school at our church. Susie and I have known her parents for 15 years. Amber used to babysit this girl.

This terrific young girl died playing "The Choking Game" (also known as "space monkey", and other names) which young teenagers around the country consider to be a "fun" and "safe" alternative to drugs as a way to get a "rush."

It is neither "fun" nor is it "safe." Sources report that between 500 and 1000 young teens (the ages 10 to 14 are most affected) die each year from playing this "game."

Parents and Teachers - Please Educate Yourselves!

Please take the time to find out about this "game" if you have children between 8 years old and 15 years old. All of us here in our town were caught completely by surprise - friends, parents, teachers, and pastors. Please don't let this happen to anyone that you know or love.

Below are some web sites on the topic. You can also find a lot of information using a Google search for key words such as "choking game", and "space monkey".

• http://woi. brynmawr.edu/node/578
• http://www.deadlygameschildrenplay.co m
• http://www.stop-the-choking- game.com

Please just take 15 minutes out of your day to inform yourself about this situation. If you have young teens, please sit down with them and talk with them about it. I am convinced that may so-called teen "suicides" are really the result of this horrible "game."

Thanks for reading this far. Thanks for taking action to protect kids. Please pray for this young girl's parents. They are wonderful people - and are suffering great loss.

Sincerely,