Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group honored Judy Suter as their April Hometown Hero. Judy Suter lost her brother to suicide 27 years ago and found at the time that seeking help to deal with her bereavement was a challenging task. The realization that people in her position had no one to turn to led her to perform a needs analysis and begin voicing her concerns to the governing bodies and she asked permission to take a group of children to camp. Thanks to Judy’s determination, the support of United Way of Robertson County and the backing of NorthCrest Hospital, Camp TAG (Teaching About Grief) was founded. Today over 1,000 children have found their way through Camp TAG and received support from its services.
“Today, 20 years later, camp TAG receives applications from children not only in our own hometown community of Springfield but from other counties and states. It has been a wonderful 20 years to be able to provide this service in our community. I believe that something good always comes from bad, I may have to look a little deeper, but I can always find it. I found out that out of my loss I am nothing but a foot soldier trying to help others. The true heroes are those that have the courage to reach out and say I want to go to camp,” said Suter
The camp is free to those who attend and staffed by volunteers. “Through the generosity and assistance of individuals, civic organizations, the NorthCrest Foundation, NorthCrest Medical Center, and the United Way of Robertson County there is no cost to attend,” said Suter. She leads the camp with a simple philosophy. “Grieving children need to be around peers of their own age to have the opportunity to laugh and play with others who has similar loss while learning ways to heal and grow and be able to lead a more fulfilling life.”
“Judy has devoted her life to helping others overcome their grief and understand they are not alone”, shared Vicki Robertson who nominated Suter for the award. “I have been going to camp TAG since 2006 as a volunteer and I look forward every year to going. My grandkids also went to camp TAG when their daddy (my son) was murdered in 2003 and Mrs. Judy was there for them…. planning activities, group session and then fun times teaching everyone that we all are together as a family.”
“I’d like to thank Miss Judy for all the great years of camp. This award has been a great way for me to honor her for all the things she has done for me through camp and in my personal life. I look forward to many more years of camp TAG. Love you Judy,” said camp participant and now volunteer Jonathan Barrow.
Darrell Waltrip Automotive Group will donate $500 to Camp TAG in her honor as part of the recognition as a Hometown Hero.
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