On Thursday, Nov. 7, Dr. Gary Cuccia of the Demi Brae Awareness Organization spoke to Bethel Park students about dating violence.
This organization began when Demi Brae Cuccia passed away on August 15, 2007, after being brutality murdered by her ex-boyfriend.
Through this tragic experience, Demi’s parents work hard to keep Demi’s story alive.
Dr. Cuccia and his wife started The Demi Brae Cuccia Awareness Organization with the goal to help teens and adults become more aware of dating violence in our world today.
Many wonder with the tragic experience, how the Cuccia’s had the courage to share Demi’s story with others.
Dr. Cuccia said, “I started this program in hopes that other parents don’t have to go through what my family went through.”
Dr. Cuccia said that the way he copes with the tragedy is doing the advocacy program and sharing the story of Demi to others.
Before all of this happened, Dr. Cuccia said that he did not see any problems between the relationship with his daughter and her ex-boyfriend.
Dr Cuccia said, “I never saw signs, that I was aware of, that he would hurt her.”
Even though he could see that Demi’s ex-boyfriend was a little controlling; at the time, he didn’t suspect anything.
Dr. Cuccia, in his program, gives advice to look for the signs that his family missed in their daughter’s relationship. He says if you see anyone being rude or abusive to their partner, report it.
“It may save a life, and that life could have been my daughter’s,” Dr. Cuccia said.
In this program, Dr. Cuccia wants to convey many life lessons. One of the main lessons is to always help others in any situation. The other is to never break up alone.
“If you are in an unhealthy relationship, don’t be alone after the break up,” Dr. Cuccia said.
Dr. Cuccia always wonders if the program is actually affecting people. Even though sometimes he has doubts, the emails, letters, and people that have reacted to this program prove that he should never doubt himself.
Dr. Cuccia said he has one message he would like to give to couples today.
“Complement one another and the relationship.”
Dr. Cuccia and his family have gone through something that many families pray would never happen to them. He shares this message with fire for one reason:
“I refuse to let my daughter’s story become another new’s story.”
