So next week I am in Preventure training for two days, Wed April 25 and 26. Planning that now although I do that poorly. (I am a lousy event planner). This is a personality-targeted life skills training program for 8th grade and up that has shown to identify 90% of at-risk kids and reduces drug and alcohol use in schools by up to 80%. That following Saturday is our biggest fundraising event of the year. So to say next week is crowded would be an understatement.
So Thursday, April 26 is Charles’ birthday.
And I was wondering if someone wanted to bring a cake, made at home or bought, to celebrate his birthday. Then I’d share the cake with the trainees. My son is the inspiration to bring the program to the United States. Obviously, you’d need to be local to Richmond, VA.
I’d like a round cake with a heart treatment somewhere. Nothing complex. It will become a #griefheart. I feel a bit presumptuous asking but I know I will not have time next week so I thought I’d give this a shot.
What I miss most about Charles
Published by
Anne Moss Rogers
I am an emotionally naked mental health speaker, and author of the Book, Diary of a Broken Mind and co-author with Kim O'Brien PhD, LICSW of Emotionally Naked: A Teacher's Guide to Preventing Suicide and Recognizing Students at Risk. I raised two boys, Richard and Charles, and lost my younger son, Charles to addiction and suicide on June 5, 2015. I help people foster a culture of connection to prevent suicide, reduce substance misuse and find life after loss. My motivational mental health keynotes, training and workshop topics include suicide prevention, addiction, mental illness, anxiety, coping strategies/resilience, and grief.
As talented and funny as Charles was, letting other people know they matter was his greatest gift. And now the legacy I try and carry forward in my son's memory.
Mental Health Speakers Website. Trained in ASIST and trainer for the evidence-based 4-hour training for everyone called safeTALK.
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I can bring it to your house whenever you want. What was Charles’ favorite?
Thank you GRAY! Something with sugar! He liked kind of a vanilla cake and he liked white icing. He loved candy more than cake but at a birthday a cake was a must.
Whitten’s favorite was a Ukrops cake with icing…
I think Charles had us get a different one every birthday. One year he wanted me to make one which I was thrilled about. I don’t know that Charles was that into Ukrops cakes but I know a lot of kids were
Praying you will have the energy you need for the upcoming events and especially for Charles’s birthday.
I do not live in Richmond, but if I can order it and somebody pick it up and get to you, I would be happy to buy it! You are an inspiration and I appreciate your work and blog so much!
That is so sweet. I am going to see if someone local is up to this first. Thank you Kelly