#MyFallenAngel Project to Raise Substance Abuse Awareness

The substance abuse and addiction epidemic continues to impact the Seacoast Region, and beyond.

All to often, we learn of a substance abuse-related crime or death in our area. A group of local individuals have set out to raise awareness and funds to help addicts and their families seek treatment and recovery. After losing a close friend to substance abuse, Portsmouth resident Rich Ryzman, of the local marketing firm DARCI Creative, wanted to do something. Ryzman, and his co-workers, have launched a social media campaign to raise awareness and funds to help substance abusers and family members access needed treatment and recovery services.

The campaign is called the #MyFallenAngel Project and its mission is to raise awareness and funds to benefit treatment centers like Southeastern NH Services in Dover and to help fund the development of the proposed Safe Harbor Recovery Center in Portsmouth this year.

The Snow Angel Challenge has officially kicked off using Facebook videos of local residents who want to support this campaign. Ryzman kicked off the campaign with the first video recording in which he dedicated a snow angel he made to the friend he recently lost. He tagged several other friends to do the same and/or donate to the cause through the project’s website, myfallenangel.org. All donations will be made to the Hope for NH Recovery who distributes funds equally between treatment and recovery services.

“The idea is very similar to the wildly popular and successful Ice Bucket Challenge. With the melting snow and the troubles from the ongoing heroin epidemic, I thought this would be a way to help those seeking help in our community. Many of these addicts and abusers come from supportive, loving families,” Ryzman said. “There are resources out there and they are affordable, but there aren’t enough. We hope this effort will help make a difference in the lives of those affected by substance abuse.”

Local residents are encouraged to create their own video, post it on Facebook and help support the #MyFallenAngel project while memorializing someone they lost to alcohol or substance abuse. In your Facebook video post, tag the friends you want to participate, include the #MyFallenAngel as a hashtag and, honor the person you lost to addiction. For more information on the #MyFallenAngel Project, how to donate and local substance resources, please visit myfallenangel.org.