D.J. Everett hosted the Dylan Everett Cruise & Car Show along with his mother, Marisha Everett, and his wife, Sarah Everett. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)
BY SHERI TRUSTY
OAK HARBOR – September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and one family has turned their tragedy into hope for others. After Dylan Everett passed away from suicide in 2022, his family created the Dylan Everett Cruise & Car Show to honor his life, raise awareness about mental health resources, and fight the stigma that prevents conversations about suicide.
The Everett family hosted the 4th Annual Dylan Everett Cruise & Car Show on Sept. 12. Dylan, who was passionate about cars, was a 2018 Oak Harbor graduate. The event was held in the high school parking lot and raised funds for scholarships for Ottawa County students pursuing a skilled trade.
“When Dylan passed away in March, 2022, from suicide, our family said that something good has to come from our grief and our heartache and our tragedy,” said Dylan’s sister-in-law, Sarah Everett. “We decided this was the perfect way to honor Dylan.”
Delores and Bob Matecki of Nugent’s Canal sit inside their 1947 Chevy truck at the Dylan Everett Cruise & Car Show on Sept. 12. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)
The Dylan Everett Cruise & Car Show featured dozens of vintage and unique vehicles, a touch-a-truck event, vendors, food trucks, raffles, music, and resource tables that promoted mental health resources. They included the Oak House, NAMI, Harbor Behavioral Health, the VFW, Good Grief, and the Ottawa County Prevention Coalition.
Michelle Veliz and Taylor Appeman from the Prevention Coalition shared information on the importance of lock boxes for medication and firearms, promoted the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and the QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) program offered by the Ottawa County Health Department.
“It’s like CPR for a mental health emergency,” Veliz said. “We offer the program to schools, businesses, and organizations. We hope people will sign up to take the class.”
The Ottawa County Prevention Coalition will host a Suicide Awareness Walk on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Waterworks Park in Port Clinton from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The event will include a moment of remembrance, resource tables, and a group solidarity walk. Veliz said a member of the Everett family will speak at the event.
The Dylan Everett Cruise & Car Show featured dozens of vintage and unique cars. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)
“What the Everett family has done to promote suicide awareness is much more than people realize. They are instrumental in our community,” Veliz said. “We are lucky to be at this event.”
Dylan’s brother, D.J. Everett, said the car show has allowed The Do It For Dylan Project to present well over $7,000 in scholarship money to area students. But the biggest focus of the event is to connect people who are struggling with the resources that can help.
“We added two different mental health providers to the event this year. We’re trying to build a bigger community,” D.J. said.
As people visit the providers’ tables, they make important connections that can help them or someone they love get the help they need.
“Every year, one of the providers tells me they had an awakening conversation with somebody who realizes they need therapy,” D.J. said. “If this event helps one person, it’s worth it.”
