athens, georgia

Where the Fight Began

Athens isn’t just another stop — it’s where this whole thing got its start.

Back in 2021, David Edmiston and Will Smith brought together a group of fraternity guys for what was supposed to be a one-night boxing fundraiser. The goal was to memorialize a lost friend and have young men admit “It’s ok not to be ok.”

But something bigger happened.

That night in downtown Athens was a turning point. A packed-out crowd, students stepping up, families showing up, and a campus community standing tall against something most folks don’t like to talk about: suicide.

What started as one event sparked a movement. Today, TFAS is a full-blown nonprofit bringing Wellness Weeks to campuses across the South. But no matter how far we go, Athens will always be home. The place that proved students are ready to lead — and that when a community rallies, real change happens.

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