In Joy Meyer's memory, the Menchville cross-country team will be participating in the Smart Smiles 5K race next Saturday. It's at Mariners Museum park across from Warwick H.S. on August 17th. Check in is at 7, race starts at 8. High school students get in for $10, and for everyone else it's $20.
From teammate Sarah Scott - "After Joy passed away, our team decided we wanted to have a race to honor her. Because it's quite difficult to book a race this late in the season, we contacted the Smart Smiles Race directors to see if we could sort of use their race to gather together a bunch of teams and run for Joy. They said of course so now we are trying to spread the word. The Smart Smiles Race seems appropriate because everyone remembers Joy by her fantastic smile So if you can, please come out to run next Saturday, August 17th at 8 am, in honor of a remarkable girl. Teams are most welcome! We want as many people there to run with Joy as possible! Thank you!"
I have been fighting myself for the past few days. After the saddest event in my 16-plus year coaching career, I have wanted to write something about the passing of Joy Meyer, a 14-year old incoming freshman who briefly ran for our Menchville H.S. cross-country team before collapsing at practice and passing away last Thursday. When I accepted this new position teaching for the Department of Corrections three weeks ago, I had to give up coaching the team, which was a tough decision, and one which has been noted here recently.
From teammate Sarah Scott - "After Joy passed away, our team decided we wanted to have a race to honor her. Because it's quite difficult to book a race this late in the season, we contacted the Smart Smiles Race directors to see if we could sort of use their race to gather together a bunch of teams and run for Joy. They said of course so now we are trying to spread the word. The Smart Smiles Race seems appropriate because everyone remembers Joy by her fantastic smile So if you can, please come out to run next Saturday, August 17th at 8 am, in honor of a remarkable girl. Teams are most welcome! We want as many people there to run with Joy as possible! Thank you!"
I have been fighting myself for the past few days. After the saddest event in my 16-plus year coaching career, I have wanted to write something about the passing of Joy Meyer, a 14-year old incoming freshman who briefly ran for our Menchville H.S. cross-country team before collapsing at practice and passing away last Thursday. When I accepted this new position teaching for the Department of Corrections three weeks ago, I had to give up coaching the team, which was a tough decision, and one which has been noted here recently.
In a million years, I never would have expected such a tragic event to occur. In the end it was nobody's fault, but rather one of those unfortunate and unavoidable events, the kind that we hear about happening (to somebody else) every few years -- the kind that makes you go -- wow, there was a person who was so full of life. In the short time I knew her, let there be no mistake. That person was Joy.
Being out of town, I missed Menchville's first day of practice after Joy's passing, which was yesterday. I'll also be hard pressed to be able to attend the service on Wednesday evening and funeral on Thursday. Thankfully, I was promised that if I wrote a statement recalling my time with Joy, it would be read at the team gathering. I did and it was.
I probably have to apologize to a few people. Posting this does stand the risk of stepping on the privacy of the family and the sanctity of the team bond. Which is why I have been fighting myself. But there are still many positives which can occur because of Joy's life. One of them is the Memorial Fund, noted here from the Facebook page created in her memory. Please read and contribute if you are able. Below the Facebook section is what I had to write about my remembrance of Joy Meyer. Of course she left us too soon. Teammate Christian Gray, who at 17 is far beyond his years as a leader, role model and team co-captain had some wonderful things to say about Joy. But the best quote I have read so far came from her Gildersleeve Middle School classmate, Danielle Richard, who said.. "Imagine if you were looking at a pile of diamonds. Wouldn't you take the biggest and brightest one first?"
Makes sense when you think about it. And the Menchville team will continue to run with Joy.
***
It’s amazing when someone is only a part of your life for a short time, yet leaves such a large impact. Like many of us, I only knew Joy for a couple of months, but her memory will stay with me for a very long time.
I probably have to apologize to a few people. Posting this does stand the risk of stepping on the privacy of the family and the sanctity of the team bond. Which is why I have been fighting myself. But there are still many positives which can occur because of Joy's life. One of them is the Memorial Fund, noted here from the Facebook page created in her memory. Please read and contribute if you are able. Below the Facebook section is what I had to write about my remembrance of Joy Meyer. Of course she left us too soon. Teammate Christian Gray, who at 17 is far beyond his years as a leader, role model and team co-captain had some wonderful things to say about Joy. But the best quote I have read so far came from her Gildersleeve Middle School classmate, Danielle Richard, who said.. "Imagine if you were looking at a pile of diamonds. Wouldn't you take the biggest and brightest one first?"
Makes sense when you think about it. And the Menchville team will continue to run with Joy.
There is a Joy Meyer Memorial Fund that donations can be made to at the Riverside Health System Employees Credit Union. I believe all donations go there directly. I will not be handling donations of any kind. I'm sorry for the confusion. ~Danielle Richard
***
It’s amazing when someone is only a part of your life for a short time, yet leaves such a large impact. Like many of us, I only knew Joy for a couple of months, but her memory will stay with me for a very long time.
I remember our first meeting well, just because it
was so memorable.
Back in June, a few of us visited Gildersleeve to promote our
team. It was a great day as David, Sarah and Stephanie spoke to the 8th
graders about how great it was to be on the cross-country team. Following one
of the presentations, we went to our table and were followed by quite a few
students. In fact, about 42 people signed up that day, but the only name I
remembered was that of the young lady who marched right up to me and announced
– “Hi Coach, I’m Joy and I want to run.”
For about 10 minutes we had a nice talk. No, she had
never run and wanted to know if it was hard. I told her, honestly, yes, but if
you join, I promised her it would be fun. She enthusiastically signed up.
On the first day of conditioning, once again, she
made a beeline right up to me. “Do you remember me?” Now, I am terrible with
recalling names, but I wasn’t going to get cornered. “Yes I do. You’re Joy!”
She was so happy to see that I did indeed know who she was and I was quite
relieved to not get stumped.
I was only able to see practice for three weeks, but
do recall the enthusiasm that Joy had for running. As the coaches have mentioned,
she really lived up to her name. Her smile could light up a room and it looks like
she was a great friend and enlightening presence to many. Although her time
with us was short, I truly believe that her memory will last in our minds and
hearts. My prayers are with Joy’s family, and I would like to make one request
– that our team and Menchville cross-country family will dedicate this season
to Joy’s memory. I’ll miss her greatly, but know that she has become a brighter
light in a fantastic place.
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