Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcel Roston.
Marcel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My story begins about 24 years ago when my twin daughters Clarissa and Chloe were born. I was a father, destined to be better than the one that walked out of my life almost ten years prior. So, there I was a 20 year old father of two and battling the pressures of not repeating the same dysfunction with no role model to look toward for inspiration or direction.
After a few years, the relationship between my daughter’s mother and myself had ended and I had to regain custody of my twins is when self reflection began. I knew that I couldn’t let my daughters down or let them become a statistic in the society of a product of a broken home.
In 2001, we moved to Escondido, where I met my son’s mother. And I began my career as an electrician. For a few years, things were going great. I had a career and my family restored with a new addition my son Jordan. A divorce in 2008 and relocation due to work, led my daughters to relocate back to their biological mother’s home which for some time was estranged and foreign. The unhealthy dynamic that their mother and I shared caused the relationship and interaction between my daughters to become estranged and distant which was both difficult and straining for all three of us.
March 26, 2014, at approximately 2:00 p.m. is when my life truly changed, and the magnitude in which it did I could never imagine. That is the day and time that one of my twin daughters Chloe Marie died by suicide. As a father, I was in shock and devastated by the sudden loss of my child. And seeing my child under a blue cloth from the coroner’s office was numbing.
In the months and weeks following this incident, I was introduced to a wonderful organization named the American foundation for suicide prevention. I learned about the process of healing and grieving and how to make sense of something that truly to this day is still perplexing to me. So I decided to form a team within the organization in memory of my daughter Chloe #teamchloe🦋
I thought what better way to help other families and children avoid a tragedy that I couldn’t by holding fundraisers in her honor. Not only did they raise funds for research, but they also raised awareness of the warning signs of at risk behaviors. Not just for families and children, but everyone. The success of each event it lessened the pain of the loss of my daughter.
With the stigma of suicide and the horror behind it, it was very difficult for people and businesses to get behind the idea of prevention and advocacy. I continue to strive daily to end suicide by sharing my story and experiences dealing with the loss of my child, and the steps have continued to take to make the pain of the loss of my child lessen. My mantra is “I do these events to make a difference, not a dollar”. Because life is priceless and I try to help as much as I can.
I have organized and hosted two golf tournaments, a comedy show and a bowling tournament in the past three years. And had some success. I am currently organizing our third teamchloe golf tournament and would love to see more sponsorship and attendance to our event.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a very hard road, making a difference. Because of the stigma of suicide, it’s ugly painful and scary. And no one wants to think about the tragedy until it effects their home and family directly. I often equate it to the struggle of the LGBTQ community in the early 80’s or the inter racial relationship barriers that were socially divisional.
Meaning that in small circles, or private groups of friends or employees the support is acceptable but socially the fear of association and the stigma prevents a lot of support.
Please tell us about your organization.
Well, We as a group and team host fundraisers to bring people from all social and economic and racial classes together to show the similarities, not the divisional differences. Also, we combat the thought of the sullen and sobering tragedy of suicide with great parties filled with complimentary food and refreshments that we as a team and I as a parent provide out of my pocket.! It’s a blast to come to our events! Our proudest moment would have to be our first year of fundraising, as a family we managed to raise almost $15,000.00
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Being able to meet great families in distress and form lasting relationships with those families.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 858 225 9977
- Email: teamchloeroston@gmail.com
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