Organizational support materializes in a multitude of forms, whether it be fundraising, campaigns or speeches. However, junior Brandon Porter approaches To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA), a group dedicated to assisting self-harming and depressed individuals, with a simple request: That, for one day, people write “love” on their own arms to raise awareness for the group, Oct. 7.

Sparked by a similar action within his class last year, Porter created a Facebook event, inviting friends to join in, who sent the invitation further to their friends. Within two weeks, the number of participants rose to over 3,500, spanning all the way to Costa Rica and England. The Facebook wall was quickly filled with comments of support and enthusiasm for the event.

Not claiming credit for the idea, Porter merely aims to bring attention to TWLOHA, he says.

“This idea wasn’t really my own; it is something a few people in our class did last year,” Porter said. “And I just wanted to see how many people we could reach by putting it on Facebook. My goal is simply to raise awareness for the issue. I realize I’m not really going to directly help people, but I hope that maybe by getting the word out about TWLOHA, someone, somewhere will benefit in some way.”

Although he intended to reach a large number of people through the event, Porter did not expect such widespread involvement.

“My mind has been utterly blown by the outcome,” Porter said. “I never thought the event would reach this many people. I’m very thankful and very pleased.”

After a conversation with Porter about TWLOHA, senior Raine Hayes came to a deeper understanding of the organization’s mission. Having struggled with difficulties similar to the group’s cause, Hayes resonates with the purpose, and ardently aims to assist in raising awareness.

“I’ve kinda known about the group for awhile but it wasn’t until Brandon and I were talking about it that I fully understood what it was all about,” Hayes said. “I’m really passionate about this group and the event because I wish I would have known about it when I was going through hard times and I don’t want anyone else to not know about this.”

Junior McKay Mohun initially became interested in the event after receiving the Facebook invite, and believes that it will begin a unification process throughout the school.

“Putting it on Facebook and inviting me to it got my attention,” Mohun said. “I accepted because it seemed like a neat thing to be a part of and Brandon Porter is my friend so I wanted to help support him. I think it’s a really cool event because I don’t think people show enough emotional support for their fellow classmates. I think that this will help unite us and bring us together to show that we’re all here for each other through all the difficult times in life.”

Since the beginning of his interest in TWLOHA in junior high, Porter has appreciated the group’s impacts. With the exception of a few comments, Porter has observed positive support from participants. Despite small doses of negativity, Porter feels confident that TWLOHA’s sole purpose will prevail.

“I love hearing stories from people that have been affected by this issue, or even touched by the organization itself,” Porter said. “Negativity hasn’t really been expressed all that much. Some people make fun, stereotyping us as ’emos,’ but the people supporting this are doing it for a reason, and those reasons won’t be changed by a couple idiots pretending like they know what they’re talking about.”

Shocked by the event’s extensive involvement, Hayes hopes for an impact through the large numbers.

“I just really hope that, with this event, people become more aware of it and really try to help people who may be going through stuff like this,” Hayes said. “Whenever someone is going through these things they feel alone, even if people know they are doing it; a lot of the time it feels as if they are afraid to tell someone to try to help. I just really hope that people become more aware at everything this organization stands for and that we get a ton of participation for the event.”

For more information on TWLOHA, visit their website. For more news, read the Oct. 5 article, Christian organizations convene at FC.

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