It started with teal ribbons and butterfly stickers. Olivia Demont and her lacrosse team wore these to honor Morgan Rodgers, a Duke University women lacrosse player who died by suicide after a career-ending injury. Demont was moved by Morgan’s story and is now spreading her anti-suicide message around Papillion LaVista South High School.
“I always wanted to do something to make a difference, cause it’s something I care about a lot.” said Olivia.
Morgan’s Message is an organization that honors the life of Morgan Rodgers. Her mother, sister, and friends created this organization to help athletes suffering from mental health problems.
Demont applied to be an ambassador for the Morgan’s Message organization, and she learned in April that she was accepted. She now attends monthly zoom meetings with other ambassadors across the nation. These meetings help guide each leader for their next club gathering. Demont said her goal for the club is to create a safe community for athletes to express their struggles.
“I feel like athletes will understand each other better in a big group together.”
Demont hopes that by the end of her senior year younger students are moved and carry on Morgan’s message throughout the school. Even though she is graduating in a few months Cody Redford, her club sponsor, will still be here to help younger athletes.
Redford said “It was a no-brainer to try to help her.” when asked to sponsor this club.
He explains that being a freshman football coach he sees how hard it can be for young students to transition into high school. These observations sparked a particular interest in Morgan’s story, Redford says that his goal of this club is to “Break down the stigma of mental health.”
Both Demont and Redford hope that student athletes will be able to attend Morgan’s Message and have a safe community to talk.
Morgan’s Message meets the first Friday of the month at 7:15am. If any student athletes want a space to be heard and understood Olivia Demont has created just that.
