Clare McCann’s Cryonics Plea Becomes a Call for Change in School Safety

In the days following her son’s death, Clare McCann’s grief has evolved into a wider campaign demanding systemic reform. While her GoFundMe effort to cryonically preserve Atreyu’s body continues to draw attention, McCann says the mission is about more than science — it is a cry for accountability and awareness of the devastating impact of school bullying.

Cryonics, the preservation of a body at ultra-low temperatures in hopes of future revival, remains unproven and controversial. Yet McCann views it as a symbol of resistance against despair. She says the funds raised will cover medical preservation, transportation, and legal logistics, with any remaining proceeds going toward legal actions, anti-bullying advocacy, and family support programs.

In one of her posts, McCann wrote, “I now beg the public to help me preserve his body — and to help me fight the epidemic of child suicides caused by unchecked school bullying.” She also shared a heartbreaking announcement: “With broken hearts, we share that our beloved Atreyu is gone. He was the brightest light — kind, creative, and loved beyond words.”

Australia has faced increasing concern over youth mental health and school bullying. A 2023 study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that nearly one in five students reported being bullied at school. Advocacy groups continue to call for stronger intervention policies, better training for teachers, and more accessible mental health resources.

For McCann, those statistics are no longer abstract. She says she will continue fighting for legislative and institutional change to ensure no other family endures what hers has. Her social media posts show her son’s artwork, smiling photos, and moments from film premieres — reminders of a young life filled with promise and imagination.

Whether or not her cryonics effort succeeds, McCann’s message is clear: she intends to turn personal tragedy into a national reckoning. In her words, the mission is about “hope and justice,” and ensuring her son’s story becomes a catalyst for protecting every child in Australia’s schools.