Pubdate: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 Source: News-Press (FL) Copyright: 2001 The News-Press Contact: http://www.news-press.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1133 Author: Jennifer Booth Reed Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) DRUGS' RAVAGES TAKE CENTER STAGE Speaker Creates Impact With Story Of Self-Inflicted Loss A hush fell over the nearly 800 students gathered in Cypress Lake High School's auditorium Monday morning. The man on the stage stripped down to boxer shorts, revealing two prosthetic legs. "This is now my right leg," said Dan Davison, a 35-year-old Chicago native who runs a sailing program for disabled people in Collier County. He held up the plastic piece and then clipped it back on. He did the same with the other leg. "This is now my left leg," Davison said. Then, he pulled off the two metal hooks, revealing two stumps. "This is what is left of my hands," he said. In February 1995, high on drugs, Davison wandered out into a sub-zero Chicago winter, fell, hit his head and lost consciousness until the next morning. Thirteen hours later, a maintenance worker dragged him out of the snow. He told the crowd that he was responsible for his condition. He refused to blame his parents or anyone else for the choices he made in life. "These hooks were my choice," Davison said. "I stand here on stilts. Prosthetic legs. These legs were my choice. Hooks for hands. Stilts for feet." When he finished speaking, students rose in applause, clearly touched by his story. The response was better than sophomore Kristina Williams could have imagined. Williams, 15, organized Monday's anti-drug rally in memory of her stepbrother Chris, who died in March of a drug overdose at the age of 23. The event is part of Red Ribbon Week, dedicated to drug education and prevention efforts. "The standing ovation made me almost drop dead," Williams said. Two weeks after Chris died, Williams began plotting a way to help others learn from his mistakes. Together with her sisters, their friends and friends' acquaintances, Williams formed a group called CHRIS - Challenging, Helping, Reaching and Inspiring Students. With the backing of Williams' mother, Jai Earle, and stepfather Greg Earle, the group began planning what turned into a daylong rally at Cypress. Other speakers included Cape Coral Police Chief Arnold Gibbs, Deputy State Attorney Marshall Bower and Brett Harding, an investigator for the medical examiner's office. The family hopes Chris did not die in vain. "Although he's dead, we know we can reach out to somebody else," Williams said. Sister Lauren Williams, 12, a Cypress Lake Middle School seventh- grader, had similar feelings. "What I want people to get out of this is drugs aren't the best thing for you. You should learn from other people's mistakes," Lauren said. "I think it'll make a lasting impression." Jai Earle said the students helped her family through its most challenging time. "This doesn't bring Chris back, but it gives us purpose and direction," Earle said. "Instead of sitting down and crying, we decided to fight back." Students said the rally, and Davison in particular, made an impact. "It really got our attention. I almost started crying," said senior Ashley Corliss, 17. Corliss said teen-agers face a lot of temptations, particularly alcohol use. "I thought it was pretty motivational," said junior Ryan Bellows, 16. "I think it'll help a lot of people in the long run." Junior Jonathan Henderson, 15, who is part of CHRIS, hopes students remember the rally next time they're faced with tough choices. "I pray that God will help people with any choices they make in the future," Henderson said. (SIDEBAR) If You Go: What: Anti-drug program for parents When: Monday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m. Where: Cypress Lake High School auditorium Features: Agencies will be on hand to help parents whose children have a drug problem or parents who want to learn more about recognizing the signs of drug use. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth