Raptors fans rally to support NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan in battle over depression

Since the Raptors Demar DeRozan broke his silence a few weeks ago about his struggles with depression, he's been overwhelmed with the response he's getting from fans.

DeRozan first went public about dealing with depression on Twitter in mid-Februaryand he's been hearing from people ever since.

His message resonated with a group of young fans who wanted to show DeRozan their solidaritybut the support Torontonians have been showing the Compton, Calif. native has been nearly a decade in the making.

A fewsimple words went a long way for Toronto Raptors all-star DeRozan in2010.

"Don't worry, I got us," is what a then 20-year-oldDeRozan tweetedthe summerChris Bosh left the Raptors to play for the Miami Heat.

Bosh spent seven seasons with the teambut ultimatelychose to take his talents to South Beach.

In the wake of his departure, DeRozan'swords comforted many abandoned Toronto fansspurned by another star player who wanted to leave town likeVince Carter did in 2004.

Since then,DeRozan has led the Raptors to five straight playoff appearances and broken several franchise records along the way to becoming a four-timeNBA All-Star.

Despite his performance on the court, it was a tweet DeRozanposted off of it that caughtfans and players by surprise.

In the middle of thenight in February on the eve of NBAall-star weekend last monthin Los Angeles, DeRozanrevealed a rare glimpse into his struggle with mental health by tweeting, "This depression get the best of me."

Coming together

After opening up about his battle with depression, a group of fans includingSyedHasny,Judith Wang andAleksSanjevic began to rally behind the Raptors star online.

The three fans helped in organizingProject Don't Worry We Got You, a GoFundMe campaign that originatedon the Raptors subredditforum as a way to support DeRozan.

"We originally just wanted to put a book together full of tweets and letters from fans showing their appreciation for DeMar and it ended up becoming something a lot bigger than that," said Hasny, a psychology student at McMaster University.

The initial goal was $80, Hasny told CBC Toronto. But the campaign quicklysurpassed that amount in the first six hours it was posted online.

To date, the project has raised more than $1700 in a little over a week.

"The response has been overwhelming. We've had a lot of submissions and letters from fans who are now opening up about their mental health issues as well and it's been really touching to read them," said Wang.

While the campaign has more than met its goal, Hasnysaid the additional funds will be going towardLupus Canada.

"It seems like DeMar's been going through a lot in his personal life lately with his father being sick and his mother battling Lupus, so we kind ofdecided through a votethat we wanted to give back to a good cause in a bigger way,"he said.

DeRozan'simpact

Wang, a 19-year-old student at Ryerson UniversitysaidDeRozanopeningup about his mental health struck a chord with her after seeingfriends and family battle with illness.

"I've seen the extreme side of mentalhealth and how detrimental it can be by leaving it unspoken about, so seeingsomeonelikeDeMarspeak out on it means a lot. He'sreally helped a lot of people," she said.

Monique Lawrence, 28, battles her own health issues but saysDeRozan'scomments have helped her.

"Growing up I've always been a quiet person, andeven with my struggles of living with cerebral palsy, whichis very difficult, seeing how hard DeMarworks everyday motivates me," she said.

Lawrence said that although she's felt down on herself before, knowing DeRozanbattles with the same thing has inspired her.

"I want people to understand that my disability won't stop me. We all go through things, but watching DeMar talk about depression makes me just want to open up and do more,"said Lawrence.

AleksSanjevic, 17, a high school senior from Brampton, said DeRozanvoicing his struggles with depression is an important moment in sports.

"People see these athletes and think they have all this money. Money doesn't really solve your depression but sometimes talking about it does, and DeMar is leading the conversation for athletes."

NBAplayers respond

Since DeRozanfirst revealed his struggles with depression other NBAplayers such as Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Kelly Oubre of the Washington Wizards have credited the Raptors guard with helping them speak out about their mental health as well.

In a post-game interview last week, DeRozan told reporters he's been overwhelmed by the support from fans and players in the NBAwho've reached out to him.

"The response and everything I've got back from it was so positive...it made me feel, you know, pretty damn good, honestly,"DeRozansaid.

Project Don't Worry We Got You will continue to accept submissions of artwork, photos and messages of supportuntil March 23.

Theplan is to deliver the book to DeRozanbefore theNBAplayoffs start in the spring.

Amidst all the supportDeRozan has been flooded with, the groupsaid they just wanted to thank DeRozanfor everything he's done.

"DeMar has done a lot for this city and for sports and we just want to thank him for helping take the stigma of mental health away," said Wang. "People care and he should know that."