Shortly after Uziyah was tragically taken from us, we made the decision to honor his memory and combat gun violence by starting a non-profit dedicated to remembering the children whose lives were robbed at Robb Elementary in Uvalde on May 24th, 2022. With heavy hearts and a fierce determination to make a difference, we embarked on this journey of remembrance and advocacy.

As the president of the non-profit, I poured my heart and soul into the cause, but the weight of our loss and the toll it took on our mental health and marriage became too much to bear. In December of that same year, I made the difficult decision to step down, realizing that we needed to prioritize our own healing and well-being before we could effectively fight for others.

During our darkest moments, you witnessed our struggles and our resilience. From our presence at the capitol to being escorted out of it, from sitting out for days on end to attending countless meetings to ensure that Uzi's memory would never fade, and that he would receive justice, you stood witness to our unwavering dedication.

Through the pain, the setbacks, and the challenges, we found the strength to rise. Rise 4U, our newly established non-profit, was born out of our commitment to honoring Uziyah's legacy and fighting for a better future for all children. Every morning, as we make the choice to rise out of bed, we carry Uzi's spirit with us, knowing that we must rise not just for him, but for all those who have been affected by this senseless violence and for those who will.

In the face of adversity, we choose to Rise 4u. We choose to stand 4U, to speak out 4U, and to fight 4U for a world where every child is safe and remembered. And we will continue to rise, day after day, for Uziyah, for ourselves, and for all those who need a voice.

Will you Rise 4 Uziyah? Will you Rise 4U?