AFSP Nebraska Goals for Life match aims to raise suicide prevention awareness

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – On the pitch, some high schoolers are playing for a cause.

On Saturday the inaugural Goals for Life exhibition match took place at Champions Plaza at Westside High School.

“We have a great group of high school players who (are) from as far away as Lexington, Nebraska. We’re doing a great game to raise money for mental health, AFSP Nebraska, and we have wonderful participants and fans who’ve showed up today,” said Doug Fehr, board treasurer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Nebraska chapter.

Doug and his wife Debby have made it their mission to destigmatize mental health challenges, after losing their son Joe to suicide.

“Some of those resources are hard to reach, and people don’t know about it, they don’t want to talk about it,” Doug said.

The opening match was followed by the annual Joe Fehr Memorial Soccer Game. All funds donated are going towards the AFSP’s Nebraska chapter.

The AFSP says suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in Nebraska overall, and the second leading cause of death for those ages 10 to 34.

“90% of our volunteers come to this work because they themselves have been impacted by suicide. Doug and Debby are just examples of that, beautiful examples of that. The work that they do, as survivors of suicide loss, to tell their stories is so brave, and the impact that it has, we’ll never really know the full impact, it is tremendous,” says Grace Manley, AFSP Nebraska Area Director.

The Fehr family says putting on this match is a way to remember Joe and the sport he loved and a way to reach out to those who may need help.

“We use it as a form of therapy for ourselves but again, our son wants us to get the word out and help people, so that’s why we do what we do,” says Doug.

The Fehr family is aiming to make this an annual game, including a women’s match.

If you or someone you know is struggling, there is help and hope. Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline anytime at 988.

You can also donate to support research and advocacy work around suicide prevention and mental health resources on the AFSP webpage here.

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