Less than three months after the death of 18-year-old Monticello High School senior Adam Bagley, a local gym is sponsoring an event called “Dance Another Day;” to raise suicide awareness.
“We’re definitely celebrating Adam’s life,” said his mother, Janeen Wisnieski, “but also creating that awareness, so it’s not easy.”
Wisnieski says the June 7 event is a reminder to everyone to look out for friends, colleagues, neighbors or classmates who may be struggling.
“Somebody is holding onto something, and you just need to check in and be there as a community,” she said. She noted that many people may not be aware of the 988 number that will immediately connect someone experiencing a mental health crisis or a concerned loved one to crisis counseling.
Bagley, who would have graduated this spring, was an athlete who played soccer and little league baseball growing up before he focused in on golf as a member of the varsity team all four years of high school.
He was also a member of CrossFit SPRC, along with his mother and stepfather, Frank Wisnieski.
“I remember when he got his first muscle-up with rings and how proud he was,” said CrossFit SPRC owner Martha Redinger, describing a difficult gymnastics move that many CrossFit athletes struggle to achieve.
Following the loss of Adam, “our community wanted to do whatever we could do to support Janine and Frank,” said Redinger.
Wisnieski told Charlottesville Right Now that Adam’s love of dancing was the inspiration for the event.
“I had a school teacher that was a chaperone come up and share a story that at homecoming Adam was dancing like no one was watching,” she said. “It reminded her of the Footloose movie with Kevin Bacon.”
The June 7 dance party takes place from 7-10pm at 971 2nd St. SE (at the IX complex) and will feature music from Fancy K and others. Admission is by a minimum $10 donation or purchase of a t-shirt, and must be done in advance. All proceeds go to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Find more event information here.
