Newsroom
Doug Merrill Encourages Kids To Stay Physically, Mentally Fit
View this story here at The Mirror Online.
“Power UP” Mental Health (The Crescent-News)
“Coach pushes power of fitness”
Download and read this article on these pages: The Crescent-News A01 PDF and The Crescent-News A11 PDF
Coach Merrill recognized by the Ohio Senate for the “Run to the Keys”
Coach Merrill was recently recognized by the Ohio Senate for the completion of the “Run to the Keys” marathon. Below is a video of the recognition at the Ohio Senate. To read more about this achievement please visit WFIN 1330 and Glass City Jungle.
*Coach Merrill recognition starts at 14:45
Source: Ohio Channel
10 Questions with Doug Merrill (Toledo Blade)
How did the reality of your journey match up with the expectations you had beforehand?
Nothing you can imagine can prepare a person for the physical and mental demands that come with such a journey. I learned a lot about not only myself but about people as well.
Read the rest of this Toledo Blade Article
Keynoter Article
Positive Attitudes Pay Off (2/3/2010)
The Brunswick News, Brunswick, GA
By ERIKA CAPEK
The Brunswick News
Preteens in Brunswick learned valuable life lessons about being healthy and achieving success Tuesday.
“I learned that you can do something that you put your mind to,” said Tacari Demery, 9, a student at Goodyear Elementary School.
That’s the message she took away after Doug Merrill, president of the Power Up Foundation, an organization that promotes better physical and mental health, addressed her and others in the after-school program at Howard Coffin Park.
In his 38 years, Merrill, a former teacher and baseball coach, told his young audience that he has been witness to eight tragedies, all involving friends who are no longer around.
Even though he never mentioned suicide, its prevention - telling students to believe in themselves and to understand their importance in life - was his underlying message.
When Merrill was just 13, a family friend committed suicide. The next two happened when he was 16, when a girlfriend and best friend took their lives. In a period of just six years, he lost several student players to suicide.
Instead of falling victim to those tragedies, he found a higher calling. He is now running from Fenway Park in Boston, a journey that he began this past Oct. 4, to Key West, Fla., which he plans to reach April 2. The six-month run is all in an effort to spread his message of achieving positive mental health through positive physical health.
He will stay in Brunswick until Thursday.
He spent some of his time Tuesday speaking to two groups of students, ages five to 12-years-old at Howard Coffin Park and the Boys and Girls Club.
Students were able to ask questions about his running, like what he drinks and if he gets cramps.
“I learned about running and that you have to drink a lot,” said Zamaria Gasque, 8, of Burroughs-Molette Elementary School. “You’re only supposed to have a little bit of sugar and drink Gatorade.”
Merrill, who is running 13.1 miles each day and resting on Saturdays, spends his time speaking to youth along the way.
“You have to exercise and eat right,” Merrill told students on how to achieve a healthy lifestyle. “Life is about having a good balance.”
Besides being physically healthy, he also told his audience to be their own role models and be accountable for themselves.
“When things go bad in your life, and they will, you have to find another way,” Merrill said. “It’s never the end of the road.”
Merrill has raised more than $20,000 for the Power Up Foundation.
Funds will be used to provide financial support to community programs that promote better physical and mental health.
The Brunswick News
Brunswick, GA [Click to read]
WHQR Interview
WHQR 91.3 Wilmington, NC
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Garner at a Glance: Dec. 14
Garner at a Glance: Dec. 14 from The Garner Citizen on Vimeo. (via The Garner Citizen)
Ultra-marathon runner promotes mind, body fitness
View this story here at Langley Air Force Base’s website.
State Senator Michael McLachlan Honors Coach Doug Merrill for His Historic Run to the Florida Keys
View this story here at Senate Republicans of Connecticut and here at Senator McLachlan’s blog.
American Society for Suicide Prevention Interview
Running For Suicide Prevention
View this story on WHYY News and Information
Author meets Tesei to promote historic run, charity program
View this story on The Greenwich Post
Coach running to save lives
View this story on The Hour Online
A man’s tireless run for mental health
View this article on the Fairfield Citizen
October 23, 2009
WGCH AM 1490 Greenwich, CT
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Coach chronicles string of teen suicides, stresses prevention
View this story on Weymouth News
Coach Merrill Runs to Hopkinton, Mass Start Line
View this story on Hopkinton News
GoodNewZ: Suicide’s no option, this runner says
Selectman Chair Brian Herr Running with Coach Doug Merrill
September 16, 2009
Youth Health Connection, South Shore Hospital Speaking Event
South Shore Hospital Speaking Event (pdf)
Former baseball coach’s life devoted to suicide prevention
Toledo Blade Article on Coach Merrill and the PowerUP Foundation
Youth Health Connection
Youth Health Connection Newsletter (pdf)
Walk against suicide attracts more than 400 participants
http://newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/519938.html?nav=5061
WTVG Channel 13, ABC, Toledo, Ohio
July 10, 2009
Conklin and Company
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/video?id=6910463
News and Sentinel, Parkersburg, West Virginia
June 22, 2009
http://www.newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/518945.html
WSPD Toledo Today
June 08, 2009
“AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION 6/14/09″
Andrew Z In The Morning
May 27, 2009
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Good Day Columbus
April 7, 2009
Weekend America®
November 22, 2008
Keysnews.com
March 22, 2009
It’s a long run from Boston to Key West
by Keysnews.com_admin
