About 60 cars and motorcycles were on display at the Dylan Everett Cruise & Car Show at Oak Harbor High School Last Saturday. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

Marisha Everett stood in the middle of the Dylan Everett Cruise & Car Show at Oak Harbor High School last Saturday and reminisced about her son, Dylan, who died of suicide in March 2022. The event was held to honor Dylan’s life and promote suicide awareness and prevention.

Money raised at the event will fund scholarships for Ottawa County students pursuing a career in the trades.

Everett was a 2018 Oak Harbor High School graduate who earned a General Motors ASEP Certification from Owens Community College. He was employed as a certified technician and service writer. Hosting a car show in his memory honored him well.

“Dylan was an avid car person and a mechanic, and he loved to help people,” Marisha said. “We started planning this a year ago and did not expect this amazing turnout. We have 60 cars and motorcycles here. We are so blessed.”

The event included raffles, t-shirt sales and food trucks. Local organizations set up informational booths with suicide prevention resources. They were the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Ottawa, Seneca, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties (MHRSB), the Ottawa County Prevention Coalition, and the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation.

The Dylan Everett Cruise & Car Show at Oak Harbor High School was held to honor the life of Dylan Everett and to promote suicide awareness and prevention. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Marisha was grateful that so many people have rallied around her family.

“I know we have a lot of support from our family and the community,” she said. “I think people learned what we were trying to do and wanted to be a part of it.”

The strong turnout encouraged the family to make this an annual event.

“There were a lot of events today, and we’re blessed and honored that people chose to spend their day with us to support our cause,” said Dylan’s sister-in-law, Sarah Everett.

That support will help local students reach their career dreams.

“It’s been on our hearts since we lost Dylan to help the community,” Sarah said. “He was a caring guy, so it was perfect to have a car show and spread awareness about suicide prevention.”

To donate to the scholarship fund, send checks to “Friends of Dylan Everett” at 8947 W. State Route 163, Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449.