By Leslie Blanco
Staff Writer: leslie.blanco@fiusm.com
On what started off as a regular autumn day, about ten years ago, Anthony Jason Perez sat talking to friend and fellow FIU student Janelle Bertot, 19.
The car was running and the windows were down –everything seemed harmless.
What they didn’t know was the fumes they inhaled from the car running was noxious; the car was also an older model. The two students fell unconscious in the car from inhaling the fumes and died from carbon monoxide poisoning on Nov. 14, 2004.
Carbon monoxide is called the silent killer and with good reason. It is a tasteless, odorless and colorless poisonous gas that claims the lives of hundreds of people a year in the U.S. alone.
This gas can not only be produced by cars but it can also be found in homes, buildings and other equipment that burns fuel, which includes the burning of coal, wood, charcoal, oil, kerosene, propane and natural gas.
Many people would not know if they are being exposed to carbon monoxide due the fact that the gas itself is almost impossible to detect. Breathing in the gas for too long can cause hazardous consequences and can result in death in many instances.
In commemoration of Perez’s memory and to help raise awareness about the dangers and effects of carbon monoxide poisoning, the liberal art major’s family established the Anthony’s Light Foundation and partnered up with Pi Kappa Phi, the fraternity of which Perez was president at the time of his death.
Since then, the fraternity has taken the organization in as part of their philanthropy and to help the family’s efforts in raising awareness in light of the tragic event. Despite what happened, they wanted to make something positive out of something tragic.
“This isn’t so that I can kill your happy day and make you feel sad because I’m telling a sad story, no. The reality is that this is a sad story but I’m trying to turn this tragedy into something positive, into an awareness,” said Jennifer Perez, sister of Anthony Perez and an FIU alumni. “My loss doesn’t have to be your loss. If I can bring something from this, it’s that he didn’t die in vain.”
Jennifer Perez, who is also Vice President of the Anthony’s Light Foundation, now in its 10th year has spearheaded the organization along with her mother, Vilma Perez. In addition to partnering up with different organizations all across South Florida to help with this cause, and effectively helping to pass a law — Senate Bill 1822 Carbon monoxide detectors — they have also spoken at schools and awarded scholarships to both high schools and Universities.
The Anthony’s Light Foundation is planning a visit next week to FIU’s Modesto Maidique Campus where it will host its 8th annual Ride to Light signature event.
The spinning event is scheduled to begin Tuesday evening, April 7, and will run for 24 hours untill Wednesday evening. It will be the organization’s first big fundraising event.
Stationary bikes will be set up in the GC pit, where students can cycle at any time between classes and the bikes will be available for 24 hours straight.
The event will also be an opportunity for the organization to raise funds in order for it to continue its mission of saving lives. There will be food available by donations, a live DJ and raffle tickets.
All of the proceeds from this event will assist in creating educational materials, obtaining CO detectors to be given freely to the public and toward student scholarships.
At the end of the event, Wednesday evening, the Anthony’s Light Foundation will also be announcing the scholarship winner from FIU Greek life.
“It’s not a sad event, come out, be active, be healthy and have fun while you learn something new. We’re trying to save lives and ultimately we believe that through these events, no matter the turnout, we’ve made a difference –even if it touches only one person,” Perez said.
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