Every child deserves the chance to live out their full potential, and yet many are robbed of their childhood. The feeling of being alone and helpless is something no child should ever have to go through. As a survivor myself, and now an adult, I felt as though I had turned a blind eye to those who are going through the same thing I experienced.

Although it may be hard to look back, I say to you: If you yourself have gone through something similar, you are not alone, and I am here to support you. GoFundMe, along with a platform like Instagram, can create awareness and provide instant donations for a cause that affects kids of all walks of life.

I dedicated my GoFundMe fundraiser to someone who stood with me during my healing process. When Susan was introduced to my life at age 15, she gave me a second chance. She was a school secretary at the time and she had a reputation for taking in troubled kids and mentoring them. Little did I know the impact she would have on my life.

Now she’s more than a mother to me—she’s my real-life guardian angel and I cannot express enough words to describe how grateful I am to have her in my life.

There are many kids still waiting for an angel to come along to support them. It’s easy to honor not only survivors but to also those who stand with them as they walk towards healing. GoFundMe is just one example of what we can all do this holiday season or anytime throughout the year.

How to set up a GoFundMe fundraiser

Max set a $500 goal on GoFundMe and surpassed that, collecting funds that NCA can use to help CACs provide life-changing services to victims of child abuse all around the country.