A Journey of Healing, Lacrosse, and Connection
/This August, Mary Jo, our three-legged Staffordshire Blakely, and I set out on an unforgettable journey from Atlanta, Georgia to Casper, Wyoming. It wasn’t just about getting from one place to another, it was about experiencing the country mile by mile, and ultimately, about the mission that awaited us at the end of the road.
We chose to slow down and savor the trip. In St. Louis, we stood beneath the soaring Gateway Arch, that symbol of westward exploration and limitless possibility. Later, in North Platte, Nebraska, we paused to honor the memory of Wild Bill Cody, whose spirit of adventure still lingers in the plains. These stops weren’t just sightseeing; they were reminders that America’s story is best told when you stop long enough to listen.
As a family, we’ve traveled west many times before, to the Grand Canyon, Zion, Sun Valley, and more, but always by plane. This time, driving the open highways gave us something new. The landscapes unfolded slowly, allowing us to feel the vastness of the country in a way you can’t from 30,000 feet up. It’s an experience I believe everyone should take in at least once.
Our final destination was Casper, Wyoming, where on August 8th and 9th we hosted a lacrosse clinic for three different age groups, followed by a Flex 6 Lacrosse Tournament for the Central Wyoming Boys & Girls Clubs and the wider community. Yet what drew us there wasn’t just sport, it was the deeper purpose of the inaugural LaCROSSe Out Violence & Suicide weekend, a collaboration between USA Lacrosse, Central Wyoming Counseling Center, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming, PROSPER Together, Natrona County Health Department, Natrona Collective Health Trust, and so many others who believe in the power of community and mental health awareness.
Nearly 250 young people gathered over those two days at the Casper Soccer Complex, learning a new game, building friendships, and stepping into conversations that matter: about mental health, resilience, and suicide prevention. As I reminded the participants, lacrosse is called the “Medicine Game” in Native traditions, and its healing power was felt in every drill, every laugh, and every honest conversation.
This event had been in the works since April, when my good friend Jim Cowser (Central Wyoming Counseling Center), who had worked with Gordon over the years on mental health writings, invited me to come to Casper. Jim asked me to speak about mental health and suicide prevention, fully aware of the lasting impact Gordon had on so many. From that moment, the vision began to grow. Jim’s colleague Kendall Hickman brought us together week after week, carefully organizing alongside Ashley Bright (CEO, Central Wyoming Boys & Girls Clubs), DC Martinez (Athletic Director, CWBG), Anna Kinder (Executive Director, Natrona County Health Department), Dr. Kent Corso from PROSPER Together, Carol Salveson (Project Kenny) and my colleague and friend Lyn Porterfield, Regional Director of USA Lacrosse. Each person poured themselves into the weekend, shaping it into something that became larger than we could have imagined.
Along the way, there were moments of reunion and new friendship. I got to catch up with one of my former players, Carter Boicourt, who is now building a career in Casper and eager to help establish a local lacrosse league. I also had the unexpected joy of meeting Mike and Heather McKenna of Atlas Flight School, who supported Erin Switzer’s parachute entrance. Over dinner the night before, Mike had us all laughing with his sharp wit, and we talked through the logistics of how Erin would safely land his jump, a fascinating glimpse into the teamwork and precision behind the spectacle.
And what a spectacle it was. On Saturday, Erin — a former U.S. Marine Corps Reconnaissance operator, elite BORTAC agent, and now a powerful voice for resilience — parachuted onto the field before delivering a keynote that struck the youth to their core. He reminded them that strength isn’t just about toughness, but also about vulnerability, and that asking for help is never weakness.
Fourteen local organizations set up booths, families shared meals from food trucks, kids ran across fields with their new lacrosse sticks, and for a few days, Casper felt alive with hope, healing, and connection.
As I shared with the crowd that weekend: “This is the first of many events to grow the game of lacrosse in Wyoming. But more importantly, it helps young people and their parents understand that there are many resources to help them with mental health challenges.”
I said several things to the audience that day and one was one of my favorite quotes by Charles Schultz who wrote Penuts “Be Yourself—Everyone Else is Taken”
Embrace who you are, your quirks, your struggles, your gifts.
Mental wellness starts with authenticity. Pretending to be someone you're not is exhausting—and isolating.
We need to create space for people to be real, to show up as themselves without fear of shame.
On the drive back, Mary Jo and I (and yes, Blakely too) took a detour to see Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument — both breathtaking in their scale and power. It felt fitting to end the journey there, reflecting on vision, resilience, and the pursuit of something greater than oneself.
The road from Atlanta to Casper was long, but every mile mattered. This trip reminded me that whether in small towns or big cities, sports and community can come together to change lives. Lacrosse was the reason we came, but healing and connection were what we found.
So has everyone knows we met a new Crew while on our journey and using Gordon’s motto “Take Care of Your Crew” because that is what we did except for Blakely who was carted all over the place and spoiled rotten :)
If you’d like to learn more about the incredible organizations we worked alongside, I encourage you to explore the following:
https://projectkenny.org/meet-the-team/
For those of you that need help please see the resources below:
Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for help. In an emergency, please call 911.
If you or someone you know is seeking help for mental health concerns, visit the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) website, or call 1-800-950-NAMI(6264).
For confidential treatment referrals, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website, or call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP(4357).
Please consider donating to the Gordon J. Corsetti Mental Agility Foundation to help us keep Gordon’s legacy alive.
