Golf tournament raises awareness about steroids, deadline to sign-up approaches

  • Published
  • By 349th Air Mobility Wing
  • Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  When Frank (a former commander of the 349th Air Mobility Wing's 70th Air Refueling Squadron) and Brenda Marrero lost their 19-year-old son, Efrain, to suicide nearly five years ago, anabolic steroids was the cause. However, ignorance also played a role.
Like most parents, the Marreros are willing and able to do what it takes to keep their children happy and safe. But, when it came to steroids, what they didn't know - nor did friends, coaches, teachers and doctors - contributed to the death of their son.
Efrain was a standout offensive tackle on the Vacaville High football team, and he wanted to continue playing at the College of the Siskyous. He was determined to move from the offensive line to linebacker, which would require more muscle and speed.
He got them. The Marreros noticed the physical change in Efrain, but assumed that it was due to the workout regimen to prepare for the football season. Once their son could no longer deal with the emotional changes, he disclosed to his mother that he was using steroids.
"We became aware of Efrain's steroid use three weeks before his death," says Frank. "He was having episodes of paranoia and deep depression. Something led him to the realization that he was in trouble, and because he trusted his parents, he came to us for help."
"We had missed every sign," adds Brenda. "In fact, we didn't even know what the signs were! His mood swings, his rages, his depression, his obsession with his appearance, his rapid fat loss and muscle gain - all fell below our radar because we were, regrettably, unaware."
The good thing, thought Frank and Brenda, is that they caught the problem in time and now could begin correcting it. Efrain handed over the steroids he still had and agreed to stop.
"We sought counseling and talked to our family doctor, who told us that quitting was the correct thing to do," says Frank. "He assured us that his symptoms were commonly associated with steroid use and Efrain would get through this phase. We trusted his advice; after all, he's the doctor. We didn't know it at the time, but at that very instant the medical profession failed us."
Three weeks later, despite their doctor's positive prognosis, the Marreros returned home from the grocery store to find their oldest son dead in their bedroom from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. When they left a short time earlier, he seemed fine.
After Efrain's death, the Marreros became steroid experts. Then they took that expertise - borne out of interminable heartache - and started the Efrain Anthony Marrero Foundation. They wanted to honor their son's life by making sure that no other parent had to face the horror of losing a child to steroids - especially because of a lack of knowledge about the subject.
"We had to put our energy into something, because we honestly didn't feel as if we could go on," admits Brenda. "The pain, the loss and the guilt were so overwhelming. We had to channel our grief into something positive - educating other parents, their children, coaches, and even doctors about steroids, and telling our son's story."
They now know all too well that you can't abruptly quit steroids, that steroid users must be weaned from the drugs and monitored for the onset of depression during the process. They are convinced that the psychological effects of paranoia and devastating depression caused by using steroids and then quitting cold turkey led Efrain to end his life.
They also found out that it is alarmingly easy for anyone to get their hands on steroids.
"Steroids can be found in any locker room, any gym or health club, on the Internet, anywhere in America," says Frank. "They're sometimes passed out or sold by coaches, trainers, fellow athletes, the muscle-bound guy in the weight room or any enterprising student looking to make a buck."
They also began to realize how little accountability there was regarding steroid use -- from coaches and others that should be looking out for their young players to the major league organizations and unions that reward the behavior by their inaction.
It's been six years since the BALCO steroid scandal rocked Major League Baseball, but cheaters are still emerging. Last year, Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Manny Ramirez tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and was suspended for 50 games. And it was released that Sammy Sosa tested positive for steroids in 2003.
Still, says Frank, the do-whatever-it-takes-to-get-ahead attitude had to be instilled years earlier. "Whether it's the elite athletes in professional sports setting the example by using steroids, or dad pushing his young son to pick up the pace on his fastball without the proper guidance, it's all dangerous and irresponsible," he says.
They have done their part to raise awareness. Since 2005, Frank and Brenda have spoken to schools and youth groups from Hawaii to Maine. They attended and provided written testimony for the Congressional Hearing on Steroids in Major League Baseball and for the Mitchell Report in Washington, DC. They have aligned the foundation with Dr. Linn Goldberg's Atlas & Athena anti-steroid program. They've appeared in TV news stories and inspired scores of articles, including the front page of The New York Times.
"Our lesson for parents is to counsel your children on the deadly dangers of steroids so that they never use them," says Brenda. "And if by chance you have a child that is using steroids, you need to treat it as a 'life threatening' situation - because it is. If your doctor tells you otherwise, look for a new doctor and keep looking until you find one that treats the situation with the gravity it deserves."
Join the fight
Frank and Brenda are committed to expanding the foundation to reach even more people. However, like any other nonprofit, it takes contributions from companies and individuals to keep the organization solvent.
The Marrero Foundation relies on two golf tournament fundraisers for help: one in Reading PA in June, and the other is Friday, October 8, at Rancho Solano Golf Course in Fairfield.
Each year, it is a challenge to find sponsors.
"Obviously, we'd love to find a community-minded corporate partner who is passionate about the steroid issue and would be willing to sponsor the annual tournament," says Frank. "But we realize that there are lots of worthwhile issues and great demand for corporate dollars out there -- especially in our shaky economy. That's why we have sponsorship opportunities from $35 to $15,000, as well as requests for raffle and silent auction donations. We're grateful for any and all participation."
Of course, that includes golfers. The event is a 4-person scramble format, and will feature a Hole-in-One Challenge, putting contest, longest drive and closest-to-the pin holes, and prizes for the top three scoring teams in the scramble.
Immediately following the tournament, participants will enjoy a salmon and tri-tip dinner, raffle and silent auction of sports memorabilia. The fee for the golf and dinner is $135, and the deadline is September 24.
If you are interested in playing in the tournament or sponsoring it at some level, tournament brochures and entry forms can be found at Rancho Solano Golf Course, 3250 Rancho Solano Parkway in Fairfield, or through the Foundation web site at www.nosteroids.org. You may also contact Frank or Brenda Marrero directly at teamfast@um.att.com or 707-447-1058.