Max's Mission, Naperville, IL (2026)

06/04/2026

🚴‍♀️ Help us raise $1,000 for Max’s Mission.

Last year over $100,00 was raised at the Solstice Century Bike Ride and distributed to six different local charities, with Max's Mission being one of them.

On June 19th, riders will be taking part in the Solstice Century Bike Ride at Whalon Lake, hosted by IntentGen — and we are using this opportunity to raise funds for Max’s Mission.

My goal is to raise $1,000 (or more) to help us continue providing support, education, and resources for those grieving a su***de loss.

This event has grown in such a beautiful way for Max's Mission. My friend Helen, a bereaved mom, is coming back from New Orleans to ride with us (this is us pictured last year,) my husband Ray will bike over 100 miles (he did 130 last year) and another friend and bereaved mom, Vickie, is riding too, and has raised 3k so far.

This has become more than a ride for us.

It's a way to turn grief into connection, purpose and hope.

Every dollar helps us reach su***de loss survivors with comfort baskets, support groups, handwritten cards, community events, and reminders that they are not alone.

This work matters because su***de loss can feel isolating, devastating, and impossible to carry. At Max’s Mission, we walk alongside survivors to bring them hope, healing, and connection.

If you are able, please consider making a donation in honor of Max, in memory of someone you love, or simply to help bring light to someone walking through the darkest days of their life.

💙 Help us reach our $1,000 goal
❤️ Every gift makes a difference
🚴 Donate today: https://givebutter.com/2026solsticecentury/mental-health-services/jillwijangco2

Thank you for helping us serve the survivor.

***deLossSurvivors

05/22/2026

Deadline has been extended to WEDNESDAY MAY 27th to reserve a butterfly for our upcoming Survivor Day Butterfly Release!!!

Please come join us for our 1st annual Survivor Day Butterfly Release on Saturday June 13th.

Join Max's Mission and a community of su***de loss survivors for a meaningful morning of remembrance, connection and hope. This special gathering offers a space to honor our loved ones lost to su***de and to be surrounded by a community that understands.

The morning will include a brief reflection from grief therapist Priscilla Brinkman, an opportunity for attendees to say the name of their loved one out loud, and a butterfly release along the Fox River as a symbol of remembrance and love.

Guests are also invited to participate in rock painting, creating something personal to take with them or leave behind in honor of their loved one.

Register at: maxs-mission.org/butterfly to reserve your butterfly.

Community heals, and this event will be an opportunity for just that.

Through the connections that we all make as loss survivors we form a community that in turn helps us with our grief.

Knowing we are not alone can be so powerful.

And that we are more than our losses.

We are a group of amazing, supportive, and caring humans that know what it's like to experience the unimaginable still go on living.

Which is the hardest thing to do some days with this type of loss.

But when you come to events where you are surrounded by others where you don't even need to say a word, and they understand....It heals your heart in ways that are hard to explain.

Please pass this graphic along to anyone who has experienced a loss by su***de.

And thank you always to this amazing community that has been so supportive of our mission from day one.

And to our amazing graphic artist who can make anything beautiful and took time out of her week to produce this amazing graphic for our event.

It takes an army to do what we do, and I so thankful for everyone who is a part of it.

If you have any questions about the event please reach out to Jill - [email protected]

Thank you and see you June 13th :)

05/20/2026

Brendan was a kind person who enjoyed making others laugh.

He made everyone around him feel safe.

He loved concerts, playing video games, attending concerts, listening to music and spending time with his family and friends.

Brendan's true passion in life was music. He even wrote his own music and performed on stage.

Brendan disliked tuna fish sandwiches and being told to get a haircut.

Which is pretty typical for an 18 year old young man.

His obituary says that it is "impossible to sum up a young man so caring, genuine, spirited, hilarious, and stubborn."

For everyone who knew him, these qualities were obvious.

And for anyone who had the privilege of knowing this young man, he is deeply missed.

We lose the best of the best to su***de.

And it will never make sense why.

So many of us loss survivors can spend years of our lives trying to figure out the reason, or the reasons why our loved one died.

Looking for clues, an answer, as to why such a decision was made.

But it still does not bring them back.

And the void is still there.

And the truth of the matter is that su***de will never make sense.

It can't be neatly summed up, like a blocked artery that causes a heart attack.

Because there are so many factors that go into dying by su***de.

But for the outside world, it makes them feel safer if we can give them that "one" reason why.

So they can assure themselves that it will never happen to them.

Or their loved ones.

We know it's more complex than that for heart disease and cancer.

And it's certainly more complex for su***de as well.

To remember how our loved ones lived instead of the reasons why they died can heal heal us the most.

Julie remembers her son Brendan below.

-----------------------------------

• Brendan Allen Tingue, 18 years old

• Keizer, Oregon

• What do you want the world to know about your son?

• He had one of the kindest, most gentle souls and made everyone around him feel safe.

• What were your son's hobbies?

• He was a musician

• What do you do to honor your son?

• We laugh, rock out, and spend time together at the beach.

• What is one word to describe your loved one?

• Loving

05/18/2026

Today we will say Christopher Kuehni's name.

He was kind, compassionate, loving and was always looking out for those around him.

Chris honorably served in the U.S. Army National Guard, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to protecting and serving others.

Christopher was kind to everyone - not only the people he knew, but also those he didn't.

One of those guys that did the right thing when nobody was watching.

Who had the hugest heart.

Chris loved camping, fishing and board games - the simple things in life.

That will never be the same again for his family and friends.

That is the thing with profound loss.

We don't "move on."

We go forward.

One small step at a time.

With our loved ones by our side.

However that may look for each of our unique losses.

Some of us create daily rituals where we remember and honor our loved ones.

Some of us talk daily to our loved ones.

Most of us want to Say Their Name.

Because we know that by doing that, we keep them alive, and let the world know that their lives mattered.

They still matter.

And that through them, and our losses, our loved ones are living on, and doing good things in this constantly changing world.

Loss is the one thing that connects all humans. No matter your race, age, economic level.

If we open our hearts and minds to connecting with other bereaved souls, we can see the amazing power of connection and community for healing.

We all need community.

And more kindness.

From humans like Christopher.

Who truly made this world a better place for everyone he came in contact with.

May his legacy carry on through his amazing family and friends who love him so dearly.

And continue to say his name.

---------------------------------

• Christopher Kuehni, 27 years old

• Joliet, Illinois

• What do you want the world to know about your son?

• He was kind to everyone he knew and people he didn't know.

• What were your son's hobbies?

• Camping, fishing, and playing board games.

• What do you do to honor your son?

• Remembering him daily and trying to do random acts of kindness as he did.

• What is one word to describe your son?

• Kind

05/15/2026

Charlotte has been gone as long as our Max has....Over four years.

And everyone who knew her has felt her loss since the day she left.

This photo collage from her yearbook has quotes from friends and classmates that showcase what a bright light Charlotte was.

"I am so lucky to have gotten to know such a wonderful girl. Charlotte always knew exactly what to say to a friend in need. She was such a genuine person."

"She made me realize I'm not alone. Everything with her made sense. She was my best friend, the person who made me feel less alone."

"She always found a way to make me laugh. I will always remember her humor and energy."

"You're so special to me and made each day so much better. I've never had somebody understand me the way you do. I felt deeply connected to you immediately."

This just shows you that the most beautiful, loving, and best of friends can leave this earth by su***de.

The brightest lights.

The biggest hearts.

The ones who feel other's pain and take it on as their own.

The best of the best.

There were two words Charlotte's dad Brian used when writing about Charlotte that stood out to me....

Charlotte is"everything," and one word to describe her is....... "missed."

And I think everyone who has lost a close family member to su***de can relate to "everything" and "missed."

Our kids are our everything.

They are our entire world.

And no matter the number of years they have been gone, they will always be missed.

For child loss, it is every second of every single day that they are missed.

Because they are still our everything, even after death, which cannot break that bond of love.

Thank you for sharing Charlotte with the world.

And helping to lessen the stigma around su***de loss.

---------------------------------------

•Charlotte Almeter, 16 years old

• Fairfax, VA

• What do you want the world to know about your daughter?

• She was beautiful, quirky, and everything.

• What were your daughter's hobbies?

• Dance, music, piano

• What do you do to honor your daughter?

• Think about her every day.

• What is one word to describe your daughter?

• Missed

05/13/2026

This beautiful soul has been gone just a little over one year.

She died so young, at age 13.

Which is a comment I often hear about my Max, who died at age 15.

When in reality, there is never a good age to die by su***de.

It is all devastating no matter the age.

But no parent should ever outlive their child.

Or not get to see their child get their driver's license, graduate high school, get their first job......all those milestones that parents cherish.

Su***de takes all of that from us.

And so much more.

It robs us of all of our kid's future, and at the same time is hard to appreciate past memories.

I have heard that with time, we can smile more than we cry when we think about our children who have passed too soon.

But, I have heard this from bereaved moms who are 15+ years out from their loss.

Grief is a slow process.

That we all must go through at our own pace.

Mia made such an impression on those around her in her short 13 years on this planet.

Her mother Veronica shared a letter with me written by Mia's friend Sara. Sara talked about how she was having a hard time adjusting to 7th grade and struggled with making friendships, but when she met Mia it changed the course of her school year.

Mia had a gift for making people feel comfortable and appreciated. Mia introduced Sara to more people, helping her transition into 7th grade with ease and comfort.

Mia is described as a "one-of-a-kind friend.

Who opened doors for her friends to create new friendships.

Which we know is priceless in junior high.

It does really sound like Mia was too good for this world.

Just as her mom describes her.

---------------------------------------

• Mia Mejia, 13 years old

• Anaheim, California

• What do you want the world to know about your daughter?

• Mia was kind. She had an infectious laugh and warm smile. She made everyone feel seen.

She really was too good for this world.

• What were your daughter's hobbies?

• Mia loved gymnastics and craft making.

• What do you do to honor your daughter?

• Advocate for kindness

• What is one word to describe your daughter?

• Kind

05/13/2026

Deadline to reserve a butterfly is TOMORROW - May 13th!!!!

Please come join us for our 1st annual Survivor Day Butterfly Release on Saturday June 13th.

Join Max's Mission and a community of su***de loss survivors for a meaningful morning of remembrance, connection and hope. This special gathering offers a space to honor our loved ones lost to su***de and to be surrounded by a community that understands.

The morning will include a brief reflection from grief therapist Priscilla Brinkman, an opportunity for attendees to say the name of their loved one out loud, and a butterfly release along the Fox River as a symbol of remembrance and love.

Guests are also invited to participate in rock painting, creating something personal to take with them or leave behind in honor of their loved one.

Scan QR code OR register at: maxs-mission.org/butterfly to reserve your butterfly.

Community heals, and this event will be an opportunity for just that.

Through the connections that we all make as loss survivors we form a community that in turn helps us with our grief.

Knowing we are not alone can be so powerful.

And that we are more than our losses.

We are a group of amazing, supportive, and caring humans that know what it's like to experience the unimaginable still go on living.

Which is the hardest thing to do some days with this type of loss.

But when you come to events where you are surrounded by others where you don't even need to say a word, and they understand....It heals your heart in ways that are hard to explain.

Please pass this graphic along to anyone who has experienced a loss by su***de.

And thank you always to this amazing community that has been so supportive of our mission from day one.

And to our amazing graphic artist who can make anything beautiful and took time out of her week to produce this amazing graphic for our event.

It takes an army to do what we do, and I so thankful for everyone who is a part of it.

If you have any questions about the event please reach out to Jill - [email protected]

Thank you and see you June 13th :)

05/12/2026

It will be three years that Kyle has been gone on the 23rd of this month.

And he is missed by so many.

Including his sister Traci who answered my four questions for Say Their Name.

My post yesterday was also a sister who submitted her brother for Say Their Name.

The forgotten mourners. The siblings.

There was a very thoughtful comment on my LinkedIn post yesterday by a follower named Susie, and she said this:

"Siblings are not the strong ones who will be fine.

We are the ones who grew up in the same house, breathed the same air, shared a history no one can touch. When that's gone, something in us goes with it.

And the silence around it is loud.
If the bond was strong, there is not replacement for that kind of connection.
If it was complicated, the grief comes with questions that don't sleep.
What if. I should have. Why didn't I.

That doesn't fade neatly. It lives in the background of everything.

There is no clean ending to su***de loss. No moment where it suddenly all makes sense. Just waves that hit when they want, and a heart learning to hold both love and pain at the same time.

So let's stop overlooking siblings. Stop assuming they are okay.

Some of us are carrying a loss that reshaped our entire identity, and we learned to do it quietly.

To anyone walking this path, you are not forgotten. You are not dramatic. You are grieving someone who was part of your beginning.

And that kind of loss deserves to be seen."

Beautifully stated. Don't forget the siblings.

--------------------------------------

• Kyle Copeland, 30 years old

• Baton Rouge, Lousiana

• What do you want the world to know about your brother?

• He loved making people laugh, and he loved doing impressions and playing jokes on people.

• What were your brother's hobbies?

• Fishing, hunting, four wheelers, and shooting guns with his son.

• What do you do to honor your brother?

• Constantly spread su***de awareness and check in with people.

• What is one word to describe your brother?

• Funny

05/11/2026

Losing a sibling to su***de is incredibly complex no matter the age.

Siblings are oftentimes labeled the forgotten mourners and it's assumed by most that they are doing ok, and going on with their lives.

When in reality, the loss of a sibling is profound for the living siblings.

If you had an amazing relationship with your sibling, there is nobody that can ever replace that bond that started from birth.

And if your relationship was imperfect, you may spend a lifetime wishing you could do it over.

Kelley talks about her brother Eric below, who she lost at the age of 63 in 2018.

There is no happy ending when someone you love dies by su***de.

No upward trajectory with your grief where every day gets a little easier.

That is for books and movies.

Grief it not linear.

You may feel okay one day and completely overwhelmed the next.

It does not mean you are going backward.

It means grief comes in waves.

Healing does not mean you stop missing them; it means you learn how to carry the love and loss together.

--------------------------------

• Eric Kidd, 63 years old

• Greensboro, NC

• What do you want the world to know about your brother?

• He was the best big brother to me. He was gentle, funny and smart. He loved the outdoors.

• What were your brother's hobbies?

• Gardening, landscaping, and being outdoors.

• What do you do to honor your brother?

• I ran a nonprofit in his memory for awhile. Now I walk for him, and write about him.

• What is one word to describe your brother?

• Gentle

05/09/2026

Jackson's mom Erin describes her beautiful boy as a "masterpiece."

And after hearing about all the things Jackson accomplished in his short 15 years on this planet, I would have to agree.

Not only is Jackson a masterpiece, he is deeply loved, and irreplaceable.

There were so many remarkable things I read about this young man in his obituary.

Jackson loved a good joke, and enjoyed playing jokes on others, and he genuinely wanted those around him to be happy.

He also had many friends that he cherished, and they cherished him too.

And boy, did he love sports. He played both offense and defense in football. He also loved golf and hit the ball "a country mile" and was planning to spend the summer honing his skills at the Pine Forest Country Club.

Jackson's true love was baseball, playing whenever and wherever he could. His last spring alive he played for the Spartans Junior Varsity team. Jackson and his friends also gathered regularly in the neighborhood to play wiffle ball.

The absolute brightest lights can die by su***de.

Jackson is no exception.

Max is no exception.

And the hundreds of others I have featured in my Say Their Name project are no exception.

I always try to say to the newly bereaved that our losses will never make sense.

Because if they did, then maybe su***de could be something we could predict and actually prevent.

For those of us who have lost a loved one to su***de, we know how complicated it is.

And that is why we need to be compassionate and kind to those who have lost loved ones to su***de.

Because it's a loss like no other.

That can happen to anyone.

---------------------------------------

• Jackson Fulweber, 15 years old

•Houston, Texas

• What do you want the world to know about your son?

• He was the most amazing boy that was kind, funny, smart and a great friend to so many.

• What were your son's hobbies?

• Hunting, fishing, baseball, football and golf.

• What do you do to honor your loved one?

• We are still working on spreading his ashes in all of his favorite places. On his birthday we celebrate with his favorite meal.

• What is one word to describe your son?

• Masterpiece

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