CHS Morgan's Message Club Raises Funds, Awareness At Football Game
During the evening of Friday, September 25th, two matchups were in the spotlight at the Camden High School Stadium. On the field, the Camden varsity football team fell 16-8 in a spirited non-league battle against Class AA Henninger. But both teams, and all in attendance, also stood united against a different challenge: the stigma associated with student-athlete mental health.
The evening’s game served as a kickoff to the year’s awareness events for the Morgan’s Message Club at Camden High School. The Morgan’s Message Club is part of a national organization that promotes positive conversations and advocacy for student-athletes to take control of their own mental health journey. It also aims to create peer-driven communities to discuss these topics openly. It is part of a larger national non-profit organization dedicated to the cause in memory of Duke University women’s lacrosse student-athlete Morgan Rodgers, who died by suicide in 2019. Rodgers faced mental health difficulties for years prior to her passing, while juggling the significant responsibilities of being a Division I student-athlete.
The club was founded during the 2024-25 school year by alumna Ryen Lago, who served as Camden’s first student-athlete ambassador for the organization. In the club’s third year, it now touts four student-athlete ambassadors: Grady Salmon, Kamryn Gloude, Bryce Rocker, and Aubrey Mitchell
At the game, the club was on hand to raise awareness and funding for the year’s activities. There was an information table located next to the concession stand where spectators could obtain more details on the club’s mission, and enter a variety of fundraising raffles with prizes donated by local businesses, organizations, and individuals. The club would like to thank the following who wished to be named, along with some anonymous donors: Wicked Wrench Repair, Two Broke Besties, Grace Haven Farms, Will's Cackleberry Castle Pumpkin Farm, D.N.C. Landscaping, Missy Snyder and Family, Sara Mitchell, Mary Jo Britton, Mallory Coleman, Danielle Danaher, and the Camden Football Boosters.
Through the generosity of those donors, and some others who donated cash on-site, the club raised over $1,000 for its activities, and to continue the conversation about student-athlete mental health throughout the year.
Prior to the game, a short ceremony was also held in recognition of the cause. Each student ambassador offered a brief statement on why the cause is important, before turning the program over to football student-athlete William Kantor. In a heartfelt address, Kantor discussed his own challenges navigating the loss of his best friend and teammate, Tyler Spellicy, last year, and how seeking support from the people in his corner changed everything at the toughest of times. It was an impactful statement that aligned perfectly with what Morgan’s Message is all about: empowering student-athletes to seek support when they feel it's needed.
Stay tuned to camdenschools.org for further updates on the club’s activities throughout the year. 