Latest news with #McCann
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Australian actor raising money to cryogenically preserve teen son
Editor's Note: This article contains discussions of suicide. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you can find resources in your area on the National Crisis Line website or by calling 988. (NewsNation) — An Australian actor who lost her 13-year-old son to suicide has begun raising money to have the teen cryogenically frozen. Clare McCann, 32, of Sydney, hopes that future medical technology can bring back her son, Atreyu McCann. 7NEWS in Sydney reported that Atreyu died May 23 after what his mother described as months of incessant, violent bullying at his school in New South Wales. McCann said in an Instagram post that her son took his own life in a 'moment of unbearable pain.' Family files lawsuit against school alleging bullying led to son's suicide 'This was not his fault,' the grieving mother wrote. 'He was let down by the schooling system as he suffered horrendous amounts of bullying. Now I humbly beg of you to help me preserve his life and help me fight against this inhumane landslide of child suicides caused by unchecked bullying by schools and teachers.' McCann told 7NEWS that the students who bullied Atreyu were never properly disciplined for their behavior. She disputed Education Department claims that the school tried to intervene. The actress wrote on her GoFundMe page that she has medical records, psychologist reports and a formal PTSD diagnosis from Atreyu's doctor, along with emails 'proving (she) raised the alarm repeatedly' to school administrators, to no avail. She described her son as an 'intelligent, kind, sweet' boy who deserves a second chance if possible. 'Maybe it might not ever happen, but if there's a chance, you know, he deserves a chance,' McCann told the news station. Pope Francis says bullying at school prepares students for war, not peace Southern Cryonics, Australia's only cryogenics facility, has agreed to do what it can to offer Atreyu that second chance. 'A hundred percent we're not certain,' Southern Cryonics founder Peter Tsolakides told 7NEWS. 'No guarantees, but there's a reasonable probability.' McCann wrote earlier this week that her son's body needed to be frozen within the next seven days. 'If we miss this window, we lose the chance for any future revival that science may offer,' she wrote. 'This is about hope and justice. Refusing to let my son's story end in silence.' As of Friday, the fundraiser had raised just under $16,000 of the $300,000 goal. From deepfake nudes to incriminating audio, school bullying is going AI A New South Wales Department of Education spokesperson told NBC News the agency was devastated by Atreyu's death and that department officials and school administrators will work with authorities to determine the circumstances behind the boy's death. Australian residents who need help in a crisis can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, according to 7NEWS. For further information about depression, they can contact beyondblue on 1300224636 or talk to their GP, local health professional or someone they trust. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Game of Thrones star Rory McCann speaks out on joining Star Wars as Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka: "I think it's the right decision to carry on his storyline"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Game of Thrones star Rory McCann has spoken out for the first time on taking over as Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka season 2. McCann is stepping in for Ray Stevenson as the former Jedi, after Stevenson sadly died in 2023. The casting was confirmed at Star Wars Celebration 2025. "I think it's the right decision to carry on his storyline, not just cut it off," McCann told "We've done it before with other things. I hope the fans embrace it and I'll do my best. I'm just starting now, so I'm just trying to be in the right zone for doing it. It's pretty bloody exciting. I mean, I remember being a kid with my dad, going to the first one probably in the late '70s and '80s. Now I'm training with a lightsaber at night, so it's pretty exciting." "It was a challenge for me to even consider continuing for a while," Ahsoka creator Dave Filoni said at this year's Celebration of Stevenson's passing. "But I have a great support group with Jon [Favreau] and Rosario [Dawson]. And I found a way, and I had Ray in my head. And [I'm] grateful for all those conversations with him about Baylan, so I understood what to do. It just took a while to get there. But I'm very confident now that Ray would be happy with the direction of the character that we've chosen." Also at Celebration, it was confirmed that Hayden Christensen will return as Anakin Skywalker in season 2, while another major Star Wars character, Admiral Ackbar, will face off against Grand Admiral Thrawn. A first look of sorts was also played for the crowd, featuring concept art spliced together with a voice over that teased giant evil droids and battles in two galaxies. Ahsoka season 2 doesn't yet have a release date. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.
NBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Australian mom seeks to 'cryogenically preserve' her son after tragic loss
Australian actress Clare McCann is trying to raise funds to "cryogenically preserve" her 13-year-old son's body after he died by suicide. McCann spoke with NBC News' Gadi Schwartz about her son being affected by bullying and the possibility of the science of cryogenics in the future. May 29, 2025
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Penn State fraternity turned into new space for local nonprofit
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — A local crisis management organization, Centre Helps, is officially operational in its new home of a former fraternity building in State College. Alpha Chi Sigma at 406 S. Pugh St. was abandoned for several years before State College's Redevelopment Authority partnered with Centre Helps to give them the building. The roughly $1.5 million in renovations started in late 2024 and lasted through May 2025. Director of Centre Helps Denise McCann says there is still more work to be done, but the building is finished enough for them to move in. 'It's so much bigger and brighter and it's just more conducive to the kind of work we're doing,' McCann said. 'That's what we wanted to able to provide our staff with.' Centre County honors nominees for 2024 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year The building has three floors: two are for Centre Helps, and according to McCann, apartments are planned to eventually be built on the third floor. The first floor houses a new conference room for meetings, but McCann plans to have the space be used for other activities as well. 'Our hope is also to offer this space to the community if they need a space,' McCann said. Along with the conference room, the first floor also houses offices and a room for volunteers to relax before or after a shift. McCann wants the new building to be inviting for her employees or anyone who walks through the door, with a space carved out specifically for talking with clients who may be in crisis. The second floor is where volunteers take 988 suicide prevention calls. A larger building means more office space for the volunteers. 'The old space only allowed two desks and two phones when, typically, we might have three or four people on shift,' McCann said. 'They each have their own workspace now.' Centre Helps is also an emergency food bank, and the larger space allows them to hold more food in a convenient area on the second floor. McCann says the new building is over twice as large as the old one, and she is thankful for the borough footing most of the bill. 'They [State College borough] were just looking for someone to occupy it that filled the mission that under which they bought it,' McCann said. McCann says she hopes to expand programs within Centre Helps thanks to the new building, but nothing is set in stone yet. To learn more about the nonprofit, visit its website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Recap of State of the City Address in Chula Vista
CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Hundreds of people turned out for the State of the City Address for Chula Vista on Tuesday. 'This year's budget has no cuts in services, no layoffs, and fully funded reserves,' said Mayor John McCann from the City of Chula Vista — a brag that is becoming more rare in the County of San Diego. The mayor gushed over the completion of the Gaylord Pacific project, the additions to the city's fire and police departments, and he also focused on public safety. 'The department responds to priority one emergency calls on an average of 5 minutes and 50 seconds,' said McCann. Coronado shoreline closed due to sewage from Tijuana River Economically, it's hard to miss the Gaylord Resort towering above the bay. Mayor McCann says for a local like him, he's still in shock to see a project through that started in the early 2000s. 'For decades we have wanted to something incredibly nice on the bayfront, and we finally made it happen,' he stated. 'I'm just incredibly proud that I'm the mayor when they opened it.' Fixing the cross-border sewage problem is also something Chula Vista has started working on. Overall the message is clear: while most cities are struggling, Chula Vista says for now this is their time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
