WATCH: Annual You Matter Day at Merritt Island High School a Resounding Success
By Steve Wilson // September 24, 2026
Community event spread awareness and made resources available for suicide prevention
WATCH: The Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson and Lisa Nicholas recently covered the 5th Annual You Matter Day held by the nonprofit, Do It for Hunter, at Merritt Island High School. Hundreds of people turned out for this event which revolved around mental health and suicide prevention. For information on Do It for Hunter, CLICK HERE.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – By all accounts, the recent You Matter Day, held September 19, 2026, at Merritt Island High School (MIHS) was a resounding success. The event started with the Mustang-Mile, as runners and walkers made their way through the halls of MIHS, around the track, and back to the start/finish line in front of the auditorium. It finished with dancing, food, plenty of fun and more!
The nonprofit, Do It for Hunter, was front and center at the event. Quite a few schools were on hand with games for kids to play, and multiple nonprofits were on site to make their services available. The day was all about making mental health resources available, and what to do in the event an individual is in need of help.
Do It for Hunter president and founder, Kelly Haskins told me, “Today makes my heart happy that we have so many people here, all for a really great cause.” She went on to say, “It’s to remember those that we lost to suicide; some really wonderful people. We don’t want to lose another person.”
The mission for Do It for Hunter is, “to save lives from suicide by creating a platform for conversations, sharing life-saving resources, and by spreading light and kindness.” For more information on Do It for Hunter, CLICK HERE.
This article is sponsored by Erdman Automotive and Craig Technologies.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey, Florida House District 32 Constituent of the Week 4/20/25.
Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 27 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
