By Sarah Kuper
Julia Meyers said that if her brother Paul was alive to see the fundraising work their family is doing, he would have a thing or two to say about it.
“He was so creative, so I’m sure he might be a little critical of the way we do things,” she laughed, “but more than anything I think he would be proud of the way his friends and family are coming together to support causes and do good.”
Paul Meyers collapsed and died in 2012 while running a half marathon in Tennessee. Doctors said he had suffered a heart attack.
Several years before Meyers’ sudden death, his father passed away from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – a heart condition of unknown origin that puts stress on the heart.
To honor their brother and raise money to serve others, Meyers’ family founded the Paul Meyers Foundation in 2013.
Meyers worked as a public defender in Jackson, Tennessee, before his death. Friends and family said his drive to help disadvantaged individuals motivated him to be a great attorney.
“He worked a lot with people in bad situations – even prostitutes. He found people were generally a product of their environment and often they had been abused in some way in their childhood,” Julia Meyers said.
That is why the Paul Meyers Foundation supports several causes that help underprivileged populations.
Throughout the year, the foundation raises money for victims of human trafficking, international medical missions and heart health education and screenings.
The golf tournament specifically raises money for a medical mission trip to Haiti.
The trip is not something Paul Meyers participated in, but rather a cause close to the Meyers family because of one special nurse who met Paul in the last moments of his life.
Johnna Beurelien encountered Meyers in the registration area of that Tennessee half-marathon.
She happened to keep pace with him throughout the race until he suddenly collapsed. She initiated CPR and stayed with Meyers until additional help arrived.
Grateful for Beurelien’s kindness, the Meyers family got to know her and learned of her passion for medical missions in Haiti.
They decided to support her work through the golf tournament.
To mirror Paul’s love of fun and having a good time, the family created an unconventional tournament that encourages participants not to take the game too seriously.
Partly played in the dark on a glow-in-the-dark course, teams dress up in costumes and enjoy music and dancing throughout the night.
The tournament has sold out in years past, but Julia Meyers encourages those who aren’t able to get a spot on the course to try to come to the dinner and party.
A $40 ticket includes a meal by Full Moon BBQ and live music.
Julia Meyers said her family has fun planning the events and is overwhelmed by the support from the community and Paul’s friends near and far.
Though Paul’s death was devastating, Julia Meyers said she feels her family has changed for the better.
“We don’t take life for granted anymore. By doing fundraisers we are more aware of our surroundings,” she said. “We now know it just takes one person to make a difference in someone’s life.”
The Fourth Annual Paul Meyers Golf Tournament is April 16. Registration is at 3 p.m. followed by a putting contest and tee off at 4:30 p.m. Players will golf nine holes and then break for dinner at 6:30 p.m.
After a BBQ dinner and silent auction, players will return to the course for the second nine holes and winners will be announced at 10 p.m.
All proceeds go toward the Paul Meyers Medical Mission Trip to Haiti.
Last year, more than 3,100 people were served through the trip and to date the foundation has raised more than $40,000 for the trips.
For more information, visit paulmeyersfoundation.com.
