On May 6, 2021, Sharon Gerhart and her family’s life changed forever.

Her son Austin Scarpone was attending the Police Academy, following his life’s ambition to become a police officer.

Instead, he took his own life.

“We went through so many emotions. I kept thinking maybe I should have called him one more time or I should have done this or that. I was his mom, how could I not know? It just kept going through my mind,” Gerhart said.

Family and friends had no clue that Austin was in such a bad place mentally.

“What we went through was all part of the grieving process, but at least now I can talk about my son and I can smile and tell stories.

“I never want another parent to go through what my family just went through. It was devastating, we were heartbroken,” Gerhart said.

The family decided to start a nonprofit organization to raise funds for suicide awareness and prevention in Monroe County and to keep Austin’s dream of becoming a police officer alive by creating the Austin’s Blue Line Scholarship program for those who want to become a police officer, a first responder or work in some other area of law enforcement.

On Saturday the nonprofit, Austin’s Blue Line, kicked off its first fundraiser with a chili cook-off and a basket raffle at the West End Fire Company.

A mix of friends and family attended to be chili judges and cast their vote.

The basket raffle was a huge success, with more than 60 baskets handed out to the lucky ticket holders.

“This is our first fundraiser and we plan to have others,” she said, and added that people can go to Austin’s Blue Line nonprofit at https://www.austinsblueline.org to find news about other fundraisers in the future.

If you think a friend or family member is in danger of harming themselves, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.