A Port Hope family is once again turning a love of cars into a conversation about mental health.
The fifth annual Spencer Devine Show and Shine Car Show takes place Sunday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Port Hope Fairgrounds.
The event was created by Spencer’s mother, Liz Jefferies, and brother, Chase, following his death by suicide.
Spencer loved cars, but his family says the event is also about what happened when he needed help.
Jefferies says Spencer struggled with anxiety and tried to find mental-health support, making calls between Belleville and Oshawa and visiting an emergency department in Picton. She says he still struggled to find clear information about available resources.
The family now wants to make sure others know where to turn.
Sunday’s event will include cars, 13 awards, prize tables supported by local businesses, a kids zone, face painting and a fire department obstacle course.
For the Devine family, the goal goes beyond a day at the fairgrounds.
It is about keeping Spencer’s memory alive while helping families have conversations about mental health before someone falls through the cracks.
