Sumter County paramedic Stewart Eubanks is lip-syncing with a purpose.
What started out as a lark and good time among fellow EMS workers became a fundraiser to bring awareness to first-responder suicide when the video went viral.
Eubanks lip-syncs to “Gangsta’s Paradise” from the 1995 movie “Dangerous Minds.”
“I picked this song because it is light and funny,” said Eubanks, who pointed out that this is a personal campaign and not something that’s connected with his employer, American Medical Response, or Sumter County. “It has no bad language and the big advantage was that I already knew all the words.”
Eubanks saw the lip-sync challenge on social media going out to law enforcement, firefighters and EMS.
“I didn’t see any paramedics responding, so I thought it would be fun to put something out there,” Eubanks said.
Thinking he was doing something to amuse fellow co-workers, Eubanks was shocked to see that two hours after the video was up on social media it had been viewed by more than 3,000 people.
“I realized then I had a great opportunity to raise awareness regarding suicide among first responders,” said Eubanks.
So, he designed a T-shirt and has raised more than $700 for the Code Green Campaign, a charity devoted to the prevention of suicide among first responders. And so far, Eubank’s lip-syncing video has had nearly 750,000 views from all around the world.
For Eubanks, this cause is personal. He joined the Army in 2003 serving as a medic, including a deployment to Iraq. Following the Army, he joined the EMS field as a civilian.
Eubanks served in the military and as a civilian with his good friend Shane Owens, who ultimately took his own life.
“I want to do anything I can to relieve a family member or friend from feeling what we did the day Shane left us,” said Eubanks, who also is president of the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics Local 92 in Sumter County.
Based out of Lake Panasoffkee, Eubanks said he loves working in the EMS field.
“I guess you could say I was built for it. I feel like it is my calling,” he said. “There are tragic days and you have to work hard not to let it get to you.” Realizing that not everyone can let it go is why Eubanks wants to raise awareness about first-responder suicide and the charity.
To see Eubanks’ video to raise awareness about first responder suicide, go to https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1907189235969167&id=100000343276841. For information on the T-shirts that are being sold, go to https://www.customink.com/fundraising/local92.
