Ladera Ranch Family Invites Public to Memorial Run/Walk Oct. 7th in Mission Viejo in Honor of Late Son James Ransom, 13

(LADERA RANCH) – When you access the website (http://www.jameshenryransomfoundation.org/), a black and white photo of a beautiful boy with fresh freckles and tousled blonde hair appears. The photo exudes the All American boy with good looks, youth and a world that would have given him everything.

However, his light colored eyes express a deeper sense of purpose. An intellectual and introspective soul even at the young age of 13-years old.

James Henry Ransom, 13, was born into a loving, smart and doting family in Ladera Ranch, California. An unincorporated suburb in South Orange County – an area of wealth, privilege, status, and a community that wraps its arms around every child.

James had a purpose here. He came and tragically left, November 30, 2016, following his tumultuous, daily struggle with adolescent onset mental health issues, exacerbated by a traumatic brain injury sustained in a football game.

James was an intellect. He had compassion. Concern. Focus. Drive. Love. Humility. Strength. Humor. Weakness. Pain. Suffering…

James’ suffering was internal though. Sometimes minds that soar don’t know when to become quiet, and still. Especially for youth. Children. Adolescent teens -- the years between ages 13 and 19 and can be considered the transitional stage from childhood to adulthood. However, the physical and psychological changes that occur in adolescence can start earlier, during the preteen or "tween" years (ages 9 through 12), according to online research.

As a society, we look at children and youth – just like James’ photo, and think to ourselves – what could possibly be wrong? Life is so easy for our youth. We give them everything. The best baby gear. Toddler toys BPA-approved. Prestigious preschools with lovingly packed organic lunches. Access to organized sports, arts, entertainment. iPads. iPhones. Apps.

But for our youth – some with pain we cannot see, pain a photo cannot capture, we need to learn from the experiences of James – and those that feel ending their life is the only way out of the pain. Pain that is medically based. While James had access to extensive in-patient and out-patient care, not all families do. For example, there are limited in-patient beds available for children in Orange County. The night James was admitted to the neuropsychiatric ward, there were 17 total beds, one of which James fortunately and unfortunately, received. Greg and Courtney Ransom, James’s parents, drove for almost an hour each way every day during his lengthy hospital stay to see him during visiting hours, leaving their two daughters, Julia and Lillianne, at home alone or in the care of their neighbors. Negotiating the morass of trying to save their son while trying to have some sense of normalcy for their daughters put more strain on an already stressful situation.

Family therapy, while excellent in some circumstances, doesn’t always fit well when one of the children is suffering from a mental illness. There isn’t a one-size fits all solution for a family and communication skills, while important, can be too simplistic when you add in the dynamic of mental illness. Having an integrated solution to help children and their families is critical.

A couple weeks after James died, his older sister Julia was training for a half marathon. As Courtney was looking at Julia, she said, “Are you sure you are up for this?” Julia said, “I am fine as long as I can get to mile 7 – after that, my body goes into automatic and it just feels good.” This led to a deeper conversation about resilience and then to James. Julia remembered how good James felt when he was training with a personal trainer three times a week after he got out of the hospital, upon the recommendation of his aunt, who is a pediatrician. Julia then conceived the idea of a 5K, not only to remember her little brother, but to raise funds to help support facilities to provide innovative and integrated mental and behavioral health care for children and their families.

Mental illness, as all illnesses, is not always treatable with one solution. It is imperative that South Orange County make available facilities and care to treat children and their families. Suicide is a leading cause of death among children and the numbers are increasing.

THE JAMES HENRY RANSOM FOUNDATION PRESENTS MEMORIAL RUN/WALK OCTOBER 7TH IN MISSION VIEJO TO RAISE FUNDS FOR LOCAL SOUTH COUNTY ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS IN HONOR OF LADERA RANCH’S JAMES RANSOM

“I MISS MY BROTHER EVERY DAY”

(https://www.jameshenryransomfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/James-Ransom-Memorial-Press-Release-081617-Final.pdf)

On Saturday, October 7th, the James Henry Ransom Foundation will present the First Annual Memorial 5K Run/Walk & 1K Children’s Run/Walk at 8 a.m. at Oso Viejo Regional Park, 27241 La Paz Road, Mission Viejo, CA 92692.

This event is in memory of James Henry Ransom who committed suicide at the age of 13 and will raise funds to support local adolescent mental health programs. The proceeds from the inaugural event will benefit Mission Hospital’s Clinical Institute for Mental Health and Wellness.

Tamra Judge, of Bravo TV’s ‘Real Housewives of Orange County, a personal friend of the Ransom family, will host a race warm-up with CUT Fitness, a gym she co-founded in Rancho Santa Margarita with husband Eddie Judge.

The James Ransom Memorial 5K was conceived by Julia Ransom, James’s 16-year old sister.

Tragically, James committed suicide in November 2016 following a struggle with mental illness.

A traumatic brain injury James sustained 15 months prior to his passing exacerbated some existing issues and proved too much for the young boy to overcome, in spite of comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. The Ransom family, Ladera Ranch residents, hopes that advances in mental and behavioral health research will lead to innovative treatment and care for children and families in South Orange County.

"I miss my brother every day and would like for something good to come out of our family's tragedy,” said Julia, who will be a San Juan Hills High School junior this fall. “I am a runner and I find that physical activity helps with my mental state. Getting outside and moving is so important to my overall health."

"I would like for resources to be made available for siblings of kids who are mentally ill or who are going through tough issues. Their issues impact the whole family,” Julia said.

The James Henry Ransom Foundation was established by his family and friends with the hope of bringing about change to how we approach adolescent mental and behavioral health. Its mission is to raise funds and awareness to support programs, organizations, research, facilities and families in dealing with issues related to adolescent mental and behavioral health. It is in the process of applying for its 501(c)(3) status.

All participants of the 5K will receive an exclusive race t-shirt.

To register and learn more about the James Ransom Memorial 5K visit
www.jameshenryransomfoundation.org.

A MOVING ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW WITH JAMES RANSOM’S OLDER SISTER JULIA RANSOM, 16 – HER DRIVE TO HONOR HER BROTHER THROUGH THE UPCOMING MEMORIAL RUN/WALK OCTOBER 7TH, LIFE IN LADERA RANCH AND A SISTER’S PERSONAL MISSION TO HELP OTHERS SUFFERING LIKE HER BELOVED YOUNGER BROTHER JAMES

Julia Ransom, 16, of Ladera Ranch, answers questions in anticipation of the upcoming memorial 5K run in honor of her younger brother James. Her strength and wisdom in spite of her pain and loss of her brother less than a year ago, is a shining example to all of us of the gift of life – and a family’s determination to help others like James who may be in pain and need access to local resources.

1. For a background, where were you born? Have you always lived in Ladera Ranch?

"When I was a baby, I lived in Aliso Viejo, but we moved to Ladera Ranch before my brother James was born in 2003. All of my earliest memories are from living in Ladera."

2. What have been some of your favorite things about growing up in Ladera Ranch?

"My favorite part about growing up in Ladera Ranch was the closeness of my neighbors. For me, they are like siblings. In elementary and middle school, I would walk to school with them every day. I loved having holiday parties, street barbeques, and playing outside almost every day."

3. What are some of your favorite things about growing up in Orange County?

"I love being close to the beach. The year-round good weather is great because I can go outside pretty much all the time."

4. What are some of your favorite activities in Ladera?

"Street barbeques, visiting the dog park, swimming at the pool, running on the trails through Ladera."

5. Your Mom says you are a long-distance runner. ow often do you run? When did you begin to run? How does running help you?

"I am a captain on the cross country team at San Juan Hills High School, so I run almost every day. I first started running after a few 5ks and fun runs in middle school. In 8th grade, I joined South OC Wildcats, a local running club, and that’s when I first began running regularly. Running has helped me in so many ways both physically and mentally. When I run, it helps me relieve a lot of stress. Through running I have met so many of my closest friends. Running, or any physical activity really, is a great way to benefit your overall health."

6. Talk as much as you want about your idea for a Memorial 5K in your brother’s honor? What does this event mean to you?

"I first came up with the idea of forming a Memorial 5k during a car ride with my mom a few weeks after James passed away. We were talking about how much mental strength and stress relief running provides for me. I realized what a link there is between physical activity and its benefits for mental health. I know there are lots of other runs that benefit charity, so it made sense that a 5k would be a great way to raise funds for Mission Hospital Foundation."

7. What would you like people to know about why it’s important for them to participate in the James Ransom Memorial 5K? Specifically, what can younger people learn by participating in this special run, and the cause that it stands for?

"Participating in this run is a great way to advocate for mental health. I think that coming together as a community through this run is such a powerful way to honor James’s life as well as help others. Mental health is something that affects so many people in our world. Younger people can learn that mental illness is real and that there shouldn’t be a stigma attached to it. Reaching out and getting help should be encouraged."

8. How can the community of Ladera Ranch be of most support for this race?

"The best way for the community of Ladera Ranch to support this race is by participating in the run or attending our pasta dinner the night before."

9. For this last question – it’s free writing. Feel free to write whatever it is you would like to say in this article. Anything about your brother. Anything about what he’s taught you. And how this race is a beautiful tribute from his sister, his family, his community.

"I think that having a local treatment center for mental health issues is so important. When my brother was in the hospital, my parents would drive up to Orange to see him every day for a month. This put a huge strain on our family as my sister and I would be left at home or with our neighbors. We were fortunate to have people around us who we trusted and were supportive, but we know that this is not the case for everyone. If there had been facilities closer, it would have relieved some of our stress just knowing he was closer to us."

JOIN the community of Ladera Ranch as we support and encourage all to join in the event aimed at raising awareness and critical funds needed to help others like James.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE UPCOMING MEMORIAL RUN/WALK IN JAMES’ HONOR, PLEASE GO TO:

- ON FACEBOOK: James Ransom Memorial 5K @jamesransommemorial5k

- http://www.jameshenryransomfoundation.org


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