Australian actress and filmmaker Clare McCann has launched an urgent $300,000 GoFundMe campaign to cryogenically preserve the body of her 13-year-old son, Atreyu McCann, who tragically took his own life following months of alleged relentless bullying at a New South Wales public school.
In a heartbreaking message shared on the fundraising page and her social media, McCann revealed that her “worst nightmare” came true on Friday, 23 May 2025, when Atreyu died by suicide after what she described as months of brutal torment ignored by school and government authorities.
“I had begged the school, the Department of Education, and Children’s Services to intervene,” McCann wrote.
“I have medical records, psychologist reports, a formal PTSD diagnosis from his doctor, and emails proving I raised the alarm repeatedly. But nothing was done. No one stepped in. And now, my beautiful boy is gone.”
McCann, 32, is racing against time to raise the funds needed for cryopreservation, saying there is a seven-day window to preserve Atreyu’s body or lose forever “the opportunity for him to live again” if future science allows.
“This is about hope and justice,” McCann stated.
“Refusing to let my son’s story end in silence.”
The funds will go toward the immediate costs of cryopreservation, legal transportation, required medical and legal services, and establishing a trust in Atreyu’s name. Any surplus will support a national anti-bullying reform campaign, legal action against institutions that failed him, and assistance for other families affected by similar negligence.
McCann, best known for her role on Channel V’s Blog Party, is a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, running Cherry Productions and serving as the founder of the Sydney Women’s International Film Festival. Her son had followed in her footsteps, appearing in several of her projects including the film Benefited, the TV series Deadly Women, and the short film Black Truck.
A friend, Scarlett Wathen, is also supporting the fundraiser, and messages of support have poured in from across the country as the public reels from the tragedy.
“It breaks my heart beyond what words can compare to share that in a moment of unbearable pain, Atreyu took his own life,” McCann wrote in an earlier post.
“He was the brightest light in my world – kind, creative, and endlessly loved.”
The campaign has ignited fresh calls for urgent education reform, with McCann vowing to use her platform to ensure no other child suffers the same fate.
If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
Headspace: headspace.org.au
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