But for one night, something is free. And it’s right here in Navarre.
I’m talking about the Red Light Parent/Student Connection March 29th at the Navarre Conference Center. It’s a free event and worth every minute of your time. Putting a price tag on it is nothing short of impossible.
Cheryl Deas, the mother of DJ Deas, will share the story of her son, who died by suicide last summer. Her program is titled “Trusting the Process” and it’s something parents and students alike can benefit from attending.
It’s two hours on a Friday night, the night before the DJ Deas Marvelous Light Foundation 5K Run/Walk.
I get that people love their time on the weekend. Everyone wants to get out and enjoy it.
But if you can, hold off on the fun, on the dinner plans, on the movie plans, on the beach plans. Hold off for two hours and attend “Trusting the Process.”
It will be worthwhile. It will have meaning.
Mental health is a big deal and the more awareness that is created, the better off we all are.
Cheryl Deas will have memorabilia from DJ’s football days with her as well as recruiting letters and football camp invites that arrived in the mail after DJ’s death. It will drive home the point that even on your worst day, tomorrow is always a new day and you never know what opportunities are coming your way in life.
DJ played one season of football at Navarre before moving with his family back to the Jacksonville area. He had a bright future ahead of him in the sport. He had a bright future in whatever he chose to do in life. Make no mistake about that.
His death came as a shock to everyone who knew him because there were no signs that DJ was at risk to take his own life.
Cheryl Deas is doing her best to make sure no parent is ever in her shoes. That no student, be it an athlete or non-athlete, ever reaches the point her son did.
Her speaking engagement is one that I expect to be powerful, to deliver a message that can relate to any parent, to any student.
I hope the conference center is packed the way a gym or stadium is packed for a big game. That is the kind of attention this event deserves.
This program is about keeping DJ’s memory alive. And as his mother told me, it’s about his legacy. She is determined to make it his legacy and believes 100 percent that this is her purpose in life.
It’s admirable what she is doing, especially when it would have been easy to stay quiet. Not only is she bringing a 5K walk/run to the community, she’s willing to give time the night before it to reach out to people in a way few can.
For once, something is free and the value you will get out of it is priceless.
