On February 1, 2024, two families from two communities will come together at Comstock Park High School for a special event to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention.
The “Empower All Survivors” Night will be held during the Sparta vs. Comstock Park JV Basketball game and is being hosted by the families of Eric A. Spitler and Cam M Cinder, two brave and caring husbands and fathers who struggled with mental illness and tragically lost their lives to suicide in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The Spitler and Cinder families have recently created two funds to help keep Eric’s and Cam’s legacy of love alive and hope to raise donations for both during the event while shining a light on the importance of mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
The EAS Patient Support Fund, created in memory of Eric A. Spitler, assists Pine Rest patients experiencing a mental health crisis who cannot afford to pay for life-saving inpatient care. “Eric had a giving heart and would give the shirt off his back for anyone,” recalls his wife, Sarah. “We want to relieve the financial burden for patients so they can receive the services they need to keep battling this disease [of mental illness] that is so misunderstood in our society.”
The CMC Scholarship, created in memory of Cam M. Cinder, provides funds for Comstock Park students who don’t have the financial means or equipment needed to participate in youth sports programs.
Game attendees will have the opportunity to donate to one or both by purchasing prize raffle tickets, EAS and CMC t-shirts or simply by making a donation. All proceeds from the EAS shirts and raffle, plus any donations to the EAS QR Code (see below) will go to the EAS Patient Support Fund. Proceeds from CMC shirts will go towards the CMC Scholarship.
The game starts on Thursday February 1, 5:30 p.m. at Comstock Park High School. Tickets will be available at the door. In addition, donations for the EAS Patient Support Fund to benefit Pine Rest patients can be made through our donation page. Make sure to choose “EAS Patient Support Fund” for the designation.
Use the QR code below to make donation or visit pinerest.org/DONATE.
