Dear Parents and Educators,

My name is Scott Metheny and I am a police officer for the Upper Moreland Township Police Department. I have asked Upper Moreland School District to host an informational night on “The Choking Game” on March 27, 2008 at 7 PM in their Middle School Auditorium. I first brought awareness on this topic to the area in 2005. I am now a nationally recognized expert and the Executive Trainer for an international non-profit organization known as GASP (Games Adolescents Shouldn’t Play) and have been travelling around the country providing awareness on this deadly activity that has claimed the lives of too many children including some as young as seven years old. I feel it is necessary to again address this topic here before we lose another child in this county from this activity.

You are invited to come out and hear this presentation which is being offered at no cost. The presentation will conclude with an open forum for you to ask any questions that you may have. You may be concerned that talking about this topic may give kids the idea to try this, but I can tell you that too many of the kids already know about it. Unfortunately they know of it as a fun game that is safe. We must educate them so that they know how dangerous this is no matter how they do it. We must give our children the information they need to make the right choice, because whether we like it or not, it is their choice. Hopefully, with the right information and guidance, we can help our children to make the right choice when it comes to such risky behavior. I am asking you to come out and receive the information you need to inform your children about this so they know to make the right choice.

I have helped GASP to create educational materials that can be used to educate children and adults. Whether you are a parent, teacher, counselor or administrator, please come out and get this very important information. I have often said in my presentations: “You do not need a badge and a gun to save lives, you just need knowledge.” Please come out and get the knowledge needed to start helping to save lives.

Sincerely,