SEMINOLE, FLA. — Hallie Twomey was devastated when her 20-year-old son dedicated suicide. So the Pinellas County mother got here up with an thought to help her heal.
Her son, CJ, was a veteran and all the time wished to journey.
“He was such a lover of life which is why it’s so exceptionally sad that he took his own, but he loved adventure. He loved to travel,” Hallie stated.
She determined to present her son the world.
“I just remember one day, probably a year after he passed away, I was really dusting his urn which is such a messed up thing to do, but it just didn’t feel like it should end there,” Hallie stated.
Hallie created a Facebook web page and posted a request: “Would anyone out there, anywhere in the world, be willing to receive and scatter some of her son’s ashes and share a photo?”
The response was overwhelming. The Facebook web page, “Scattering CJ” has greater than 19,000 followers. More than a thousand folks scattered CJ’s ashes all world wide and shared their tales.
“It went viral,” she stated. “50 offers went to 400, went to 4,000, went to 20,000. I think twelve years later, we’re now at the 28,000th offer.”
The Twomey Family
The motion impressed a documentary known as, “Scattering CJ.” The movie is written, produced and directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Andrea Kalin.
“It’s a story of hope,” Hallie stated. “It’s a story of people, a community that formed unexpectedly. It shows kindness of others. It also, I hope more than anything, can be used as a tool to spark conversation.”
CJ’s reminiscence is stored alive via strangers who scattered his ashes in essentially the most stunning of locations.
“The Egyptian pyramid, the top of the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China. He has been snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. He’s gone to outer space as well,” she stated. “Maybe this story will help you understand, it’s okay to ask somebody if they’re not okay. It’s okay to say, you’re not okay.”
The Twomey Family
The documentary, a Spark Media manufacturing, is streaming on the PBS website and is scheduled to air on PBS World Channel on Friday, September 16 at 7 p.m. throughout National Suicide Prevention Month.
The public tv airing of “Scattering CJ” follows a profitable movie competition run.
“I hope people come away from it feeling there’s value in life and helping others,” Hallie stated. “I just think ‘I can’t bring my son back, so we’re determined to open conversations to prevent other people from following in his footsteps.'”
“Scattering CJ” is sponsored by Southeast Nassau Guidance Center, The Charles E. Kubly Foundation and Ruderman Family Foundation.
Those fighting despair and suicidal ideas ought to name the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.