RIP Chad Varah.

November 8, 2007 3:04 PM

The Rev Dr Chad Varah, founder of the samaritans (which also runs befrienders worldwide), has died.

Suicide support helplines - worldwide.

posted by lalochezia (8 comments total)

What a delightful and thoroughly decent man he was.

From his obituary:

Varah's battle for well-informed sex education continued into his eighties: in 1992 he founded, and from 1999 was secretary of, MAGMOG (Men against Genital Mutilation of Girls), going into the homes of immigrants from East Africa to convince them of the pointless cruelty of the practice.

I never knew that. What an excellent person.
posted by thehmsbeagle at 3:22 PM on November 8, 2007

What a life well lived. Blessings as you go.
posted by Abiezer at 3:32 PM on November 8, 2007

Note: I was going to comment on magmog, but could find NOTHING on the google. Any hints?
posted by lalochezia at 3:36 PM on November 8, 2007

I'm glad he was born, lived such a good life and grateful for the help he offered so many who were so vulnerable. May he rest in peace.

.
posted by nickyskye at 3:55 PM on November 8, 2007

Thanks, Chad.

.
posted by Mister Bijou at 4:43 PM on November 8, 2007

Is it just me or is the name "Chad" now stand in for "average joe/ average shmuck"?

I find this irritating, as my name is Chad.
posted by delmoi at 5:10 PM on November 8, 2007

That's so depressing, it makes me want to .. no, wait!

He did indeed do great things with his life for other people. We could do with more like him.
posted by mdoar at 6:24 PM on November 8, 2007

.
posted by biffa at 1:31 AM on November 9, 2007