Golf Tournament Follow-Up

Wow it has really been a long time since I posted! First of all, let me apologize for that... the week after the golf tournament, I got sick- twice. Then I was so busy getting caught up with work and life that I didn't have much time to sit down and write. As I take time to reflect back on the day of the tournament, it honestly feels like a blur. I got there early, or what I thought was early (I think around 11:45ish, and tee time wasn't until 1:15), thinking I'd have plenty of time to unload and get ready. Not so. There were already golfers there asking for their hole assignments and carts, and many of my family and volunteers arrived shortly after asking me what they could do to help. I learned that day that I am not good at delegating.... I'm super organized and have everything planned right down to the smallest detail, but I know where everything is and assume that I must do it all!

If you were in attendance that day, thank you so much for coming! I did my best to say hi to everyone, but with over 100 golfers plus all of the friends and family who came, I am sure I missed people. We were blessed with an unseasonably warm day and lots of sunshine. From what I could see, everyone was enjoying themselves and having a good time. I hope to have pictures of the event from the photographer soon and I'll share them as soon as I get them!

While the event itself was awesome and it brought so many people together, I want to remember why I planned it in the first place - to honor my dad and to support Mental Health America. I want to do what I can to see that other families and communities don't have to go through what we did. I tell my story not for pity, but for people to see that mental illness is real and can affect anyone, and that there is help out there.

Kim McDevitt, the executive director of Mental Health America of Lancaster, spoke at the dinner following golf and I loved what she said. She (kindly) challenged everyone there, but especially the men. One thing she said was "men are suffering in silence because of the stigma. They are isolated with their feelings because they are are ashamed. The highest rate of prevention work that is needed is for white middle aged males." She spoke about a meeting she was at the week before with a local rotary who had lost 2 of their men to suicide within a year. People had no idea that these men were suffering and they look back wondering if they missed signs or if there was something they could have done. I think a lot of people probably felt this way after my dad passed. It is something you think will never happen to someone you know.

In every goodie bag, I put a hand-made pin with the ribbon colors for suicide prevention awareness along with a little card explaining what the colors represented. At the very least, wearing these ribbons can be a conversation starter. I know a few people, including myself, who have worn their pin and have had people ask them what the colors mean. In all these cases, there has been a positive and encouraging reaction from those who hear about why we wear these ribbons. I have many left from the event and can always make more. Will you wear one of these on your hat, jacket or purse and help honor my dad by starting to break the stigma surrounding suicide and mental illness?

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