Mother takes up cause of teen suicide after daughter took her own life

LYNN – Hayley Blowers was a bubbly, lively and fun teenage girl with a passion for helping those around her.A month before her 17th birthday, Blowers took her own life on April 4.Not wanting her daughter?s death to be just a tragedy, Lorraine “Missy” Perry created Hayley?s Hope Foundation. The Foundation?s mission is to create awareness around the issue of teen suicide and teach people the warning signs and how to help themselves and those in need.?I want to make people aware of the growing issues around teen suicide,” Perry said. “There are so many people who are not aware of it. We want to educate them.”On Oct. 7, the Foundation will be hosting The Hayley Blowers Memorial Scholarship-A Night of Hope and Awareness at the Knights of Columbus in Lynn. The fundraiser will feature a silent auction as well as raffles and door prizes that will go to a scholarship for a Lynn Tech culinary arts graduate. Blowers attended Lynn Tech her freshman year before moving to Maine.While the Foundation has done several events in Maine, Perry thought it was important to have an event in Lynn as well.?She had family and friends here she really loved,” Perry said. “If she wasn?t in Maine she was in Lynn.”Tickets for the event will go on sale in mid-September.Along with the fundraising event, the foundation will annually have “Pink Carnation Day” on May 3, Blowers? birthday. Carnations will be sold in high schools and students are encouraged to buy one for a peer and write some words of encouragement.?Hayley would always run up to people in the hallway and say something positive,” Perry said. “Her favorite color was pink and her favorite flower was a carnation so it made sense to do that. We just want to brighten someone?s day.”This past May was the first year schools in Maine participated in Pink Carnation Day. “The response was overwhelming,” Perry said. “They ran out of flowers.”Along with the Foundation events, Perry gives her cell phone number out to teenagers who are in need of someone to talk to. “I don?t even have an adjective to describe it,” Perry said. “It?s unbelievable how many calls I get. However, when I help these kids it makes me feel that Hayley is still helping people and that makes me proud.”Perry said her daughter was a compassionate person.?She had a lot of friends and she would always be the one to cheer them up,” Perry said. “She would always be the one they would turn to for advice.”Before her untimely death, Blowers was seriously considering joining the National Guard. “I asked why the National Guard,” Perry said. “She said when Hurricane Katrina happened, they were the first to respond and that is what she wanted to do.”While coping with Blowers? death has been difficult for her family and friends, Perry believes her pain can help educate others. “It is hard enough as her mother to try to understand why this happened,” Perry said. “However, for teenagers it is impossible for them to understand. They always ask me why and I don?t know. However, because of what she did we have people listening and we can help the problem. I think Hayley would want that.”The Hayley Blowers Memorial Scholarship Award-A Night of Hope & Awareness is planned for Friday, Oct. 7 from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $15 dollars each, two for $25 dollars, $7 dollars for students ages 6-17 years old and free for 5 years old and under. For more information about the Foundation or the Lynn fundraiser, visit www.HayleysHopeFoundation.org