South Carolina Stingrays forward Scott Tanski raises money for mental illness
Post & CourierMay 31, 2017
Over seven professional seasons with four different teams in two separate hockey leagues,
With his fiery red hair, Tanksi brings a gladiator’s mentality every time he steps onto the ice for the South Carolina Stingrays.
Off the ice, the native of
It’s a major reason why he started the “Tanski Talks” initiative in support of mental health awareness. The organization, which raises money for
In April, Tanski raised more than
The issue of mental health among youth is a cause that Tanski was first exposed to several years ago during the off-season in
Richardson, a 20-year veteran of the NHL, lost his daughter, Daron, to mental illness. After Daron took her own life at the age of 14, the family came together to start the organization DIFD (Do It for Daron).
“They are a fantastic family, and they opened up their hearts to me and that really inspired me to try and make a difference in the various communities that I have played in,” Tanski said.
“Mental illness is a subject that a lot of people, especially kids, are afraid to talk about," he added. "I wanted to be able to help make it easier for everyone to talk about it because it’s such a huge issue in our society today.”
Tanski, who played four season with the Orlando Solar Bears, began the Tanski Talks foundation during his first season in the ECHL. The Solar Bears' organization helped Tanski put on a mental health awareness night.
“We came up with the name Tanski Talks,” Tanski said. “We raised over
When he signed with Reading (
“I think that shows you the kind of commitment that the Richardson family has to this cause,” Tanski said.
Tanski wears a bracelet that reads "Do It For Daron" to remind him every day that people are suffering from mental illness.
“Mental illness does not know skin color, gender or age,” Tanski said. “The people who struggle with it fight a constant battle, one which should never be fought alone.”
The Stingrays' version of the Tanski Talks shirts quickly sold out and the money raised went to
The Stingrays defeated the Gladiators, 3-2, that night, and Tanski recorded a goal. After the game was over, he held a private autograph party.
“It was a great night for a great cause,” Tanski said. “We won the game, I scored and I met a lot of great people who care about this issue.”