Grand Theft Auto V Roleplayer Raises Over $16,000 for Suicide Prevention
Twitch streamer Vincent Cyr, known for his Grand Theft Auto V roleplay streams, used his platform to raise over $16,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in the wake of the suspected suicide of Desmond “Etika” Amofah.
Despite feeling upset about Etika’s tragic passing, Cyr decided to stream and serve as an escape for his viewers, as he relies on entertainment during difficult times.
To motivate himself and raise more funds, Cyr pledged to contribute all donations received during the stream to the AFSP.
Reflecting on the importance of suicide prevention, Cyr shared, “As somebody who has sat on the Suicide Hotline…it’s a very real thing, and I’m not even a generally depressed person.” The cause hit close to home for him.
During his eight-hour stream as anime-cyborg Uchiha Jones, Cyr’s community generously donated, bringing the total raised to at least $16,305.46. It is worth noting that Twitch bits contributions were not automatically included in the tracking graphic. Additionally, Cyr committed to personally adding to the final total using his own funds.
Expressing his gratitude, Cyr exclaimed, “You guys nailed it! We thought we’d stop at $4K, $5K, but you kept going and made it happen.”
If you or someone you know is exhibiting warning signs of suicide, seek help from a professional and call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 (US) or Samaritans at 116 123 (UK).
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