Sandy Martin started the national Lifekeeper Memory Quilts in the USA in December 1997. Their purpose is to raise awareness and prevent suicide by placing a "Face on Suicide," a visual image of the approximately 32,000 suicides that occur in America every year. The goal is for all 50 states and any specialty group interested to be represented by displaying their quilt(s) as a joint effort at the annual National Suicide Awareness Event in September sponsored by SPAN (Suicide Prevention Action Network (770) 998-8819) and to use them throughout the year on local levels.

This vision came as a direct result of Sandy working with SPANUSA at the first National Suicide Action Event in Washington, DC in 1996. SPANUSA delivered advocacy letters petitioning our government to declare suicide a national problem. The letters included alarming statistics and were received by all with great empathy. Yet Sandy believed that if our leaders could relate a face to a number, that number would become exactly what it was--a tragic loss of human life. The Lifekeeper Memory Quilts are now displayed every year at SPAN's Annual National Suicide Actiuon Event, as well as at other events around the country.

As of May 2004 there are 47 states, 7 specialty groups and England with one or more quilts. This is an ongoing project, as we are determined to keep making the quilts as long as they are needed--hopefully until we see a lowering of the incidence of suicide. We will work together to educate our nation to reduce the incidence of suicide, and we might all become Lifekeepers.

The States left that don't have quilts are Iowa, Vermont, Delaware, and Rhode Island. If you are interested in sponsering a quilt or gertting more information please contact us at lifekeeper@aol.com

The Lifekeeper Memory Quilts have gone global !
Other countries are starting to make quilts as awareness and prevention project. Suicide happens all around our world.

If you are interested in memorializing someone, starting a quilt for your state or specialty group, and/or would like further information, visit our list of USA State Organizers, Specialty Groups, and Lifekeepers Memory Quilts Around the World to find a contact near you.
Or email Sandy Martin at Lifekeeper@aol.com.

State Organizer(s)

• Establish the person(s) to do the quilting, color of the border, cost per block, the deadline for having the blocks turned in.
• The state should be identified somewhere on the quilt, and the words "Faces of Suicide."
• Visit SOS support groups or contact the facilitators to help you get the word out and distribute blocks.
• The quilt(s) could be used throughout the year for public awareness and fund-raising events, survivor conferences. etc.
• We would also continue to assemble quilt(s) on a national level.

Quilters

• Locate comparable block material.
• Cut blocks to size (average is 10" x 10"), wash & iron material.
• Backing should be all white.
• Sleeve for mounting.
• Label on back to document.
• For display purposes, quilts should measure no larger than 5' x 5'.

Survivors

• Pen and paper work great for sketching out the details of your block and to use as a blueprint for the person that will do the quilting for you.
• Get creative, draw pictures, write love messages, etc. Let it reflect the soul of your loved one. Make it a family or friendship project.
• Please use a picture of your loved one (thus the picture of suicide). You may also want to include their name, birth, and death date. This picture and all artwork can be scanned at most local copy stores (e.g. Kinko's) transferred, and ironed on with their T-shirt press.
• Handle your block with care. Carry flat - do not fold (prevents wrinkling). All artwork should stay within 1/2" of material.
• Deliver your block and your check for the quilting to your State Organizer(s) by the deadline.