The first DJ Deas Marvelous Light Foundation 5K was a success on the final Saturday morning of March. And a lot of that credit goes to you.
It’s a credit to those who came out to support such a worthy cause about a topic that seemingly needs more attention than ever in our society.
Intended to raise awareness about mental health and promote the importance of suicide prevention, the 5K was spearheaded by Cheryl Deas, the mother of DJ Deas, a former Navarre student who died by suicide in June of last year.
DJ showed no signs of trouble. He was an honor student. A star athlete. The world was at his fingertips.
Deas competed in track and field and played football for the Raiders in 2017. He and his family moved back to the Jacksonville area after the season.
Yet, while DJ was in Navarre only a short time, he made an impact on so many.
It’s easy to forget people who are around for only a short time at a school, in a job, in your neighborhood.
But no one forgot DJ.
Instead, this community showed its good side off in grand fashion on a picture-perfect spring morning.
They treated the Deas family as if it never left, and many here played a part in helping Cheryl Deas and her family make the 5K that meant so much to them a reality.
More than 100 turned out for it, including friends of DJ and former teammates of his. Others who didn’t participate donated money to the cause.
But it can’t end here, Navarre. The effort needs to continue to make people understand how important mental health is, that it is just as important as your physical health.
Cheryl Deas and her husband, Darnell, a lieutenant in the Navy, lost their son far too soon. They don’t want someone else to go through what they have and are pouring their hearts into making sure suicide is never the answer for someone again.
The 5K serves as a driving force to make this happen. It’s going to be an annual event in Navarre and the hope is to expand it far beyond the town and the county.
The more people reached, the better off we all are.
Maybe the attention brought on by the 5K will save one life. Maybe it will save two or three. We can only hope it saves so many more.
But at the very least, it’s going to get people talking about mental health and suicide prevention. We need it to be talked about the way we talk about the big game on a Friday night.
The Deas family deserves as much for all they have done to promote something no one wants to talk about but needs to talk about. Forget uncomfortable. Uncomfortable beats seeing our world lose another young life.
Talking with the Deas family at the event, they are proud of how the 5K turned out and appreciative of the support. The smiles on their faces said it all. They can’t wait to do it again next year.
Be proud, Navarre. You deserve it. You made the day of the Deas family and made a difference as well.
