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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Freshman Kevin Thibodeau featured in ā€˜Journal Tribuneā€™ for unique suicide prevention fundraiser

On October 9, 2015, the Journal Tribune reported on the efforts of 51Š”»Ę³µstudent Kevin Thibodeau to raise money for those affected by depression by using a unique fundraising effort.

Thibodeau, a freshman psychology major from Georgetown, Maine, is collecting donations for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and for each dollar that he receives for the cause, he will perform one burpee, an exercise that involves first dropping to the ground, completing a push-up, getting into a squat position and then jumping into a standing position.

A participant in Spartan racing, which involves completing obstacle courses, Thibodeau has named the fundraiser the Yellow Spartan Movement. Yellow, he says, is the color representing suicide awareness and prevention. Thus far, he has raised $1,169. His goal is $2,500 or more.

Thibodeau will perform the burpees on December 12 and will broadcast the activity live as well as post the workout on YouTube.

Thibodeau was inspired to support this cause because he, himself, has suffered from ā€œsevere, severe depressionā€ and lost three friends to suicide.

51Š”»Ę³µ the University of 51Š”»Ę³µ

The University of 51Š”»Ę³µ is Maineā€™s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The stateā€™s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maineā€™s only medical college, Maineā€™s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.