Poker run to remember slain 3-year-old, raise awareness

BEAVERDAM - Frank Evilsizer's grandchildren can't play with Christopher Faulk any more. The 3-year-old died last month, the result of an assault.

Today, Evilsizer wants to start raising awareness about the kind of violence that killed his grandchildren's playmate.

"I just felt so compelled to do this. I was angry at the whole situation," said Evilsizer, who has organized a motorcycle poker run today. "I just felt like this was a calling for me to stand up and do something."

Sign-up for the poker run will begin at 10 a.m. today at Thirsty's Food and Spirits, 317 E. Main St., Beaverdam. The ride will begin at noon and will make its way through Cairo, Lima, Delphos, Spencerville, Lafayette and back to Beaverdam.

The money raised will go towards purchasing a headstone for where Christopher is buried in Fairborn, as well as a memorial stone for the children's park in Beaverdam. Any remaining funds raised will go to Crossroads Crisis Center.

The cost of the ride is $10 for singles and $15 for rider-passenger. The event will include door prizes, 50-50 drawings, raffles and food. Evilsizer encourages people to wear purple and blue ribbons, representing domestic violence and children.

Most important for Evilsizer is that people take notice and become more aware of abuse happening in their communities. He hopes to do the run every year.

"We have this violence in all of our communities and I've had enough of it. They are violating our children," he said. "The expectation of a grown adult coming home to beat on you every day, that puts a lot of fear in you. ... The worse thing we can do as a community is do nothing."

Jacob Jones, 29, is believed to be responsible for causing the injuries leading to Christopher's death. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to murder charges this week. He is also charged with felonious assault and endangering children.

Christopher spent more than a week in the hospital before he died Oct. 7. Emergency responders were called to the Jones' home Sept. 29 after someone in the house called a medical help line seeking advice on an unresponsive child.

Christopher had been unresponsive for more than a day before someone called the help line. He and his mother had moved into Jones' home four months earlier after they were facing homelessness.

Evilsizer, who saw Christopher a couple times a week, remembers him as a very pleasant and happy boy.

"Always smiling," he said. "He never showed any fear at all. He just seemed content."

What: Poker Run Memorial for Christopher Faulk

When: 10 a.m. today, ride begins at noon

Where: Thirsty's Food and Spirits, 317 E. Main St., Beaverdam

Price: $10 single, $15 rider-passenger