Day 115 — The King Pt. 2

So the time has come for Run Dem Crew to close its doors on Tuesday’s from now on.

With this being a monumental occasion for many, I felt it necessary to come down for the curtain fall to pay respects to a community and man who changed my life forever.

I haven’t been to Run Dem Crew properly since last year for various reasons. I won’t dive into them today, maybe another time but Run Dem was and still is to this day, one of the best things that ever happened to me.

I walked into the Crew as a young, shy boy. My world was small and so was my circle of friends. As time went on though, that circle grew exponentially. I have met people at the crew that enriched my experience of the world around me. We went on to travel the world together, see places that I never thought I would, meet new people and discover new, completely unknown experiences.

Honestly, I went to freaking Shanghai because of Run Dem and Charlie Dark. That is actually ridiculous! I can spin a globe, place my finger anywhere and probably find a crew that would welcome me with open arms, as long as I bring along my covered Run Dem t shirt. That’s amazing.

Run Dem Crew is and always will be a force of positivity that changes people’s lives, makes brands wake the fuck up and opens young people’s world’s. It is unique. It is one of a kind. It is the true embodiment of crew.

They say it takes a village to make a movement like this happen and that’s true, it definitely does. You need a hell of a lot of people to really make change today but I’ll tell you this. If the person that’s leading those people isn’t up to it, then it will go nowhere. Charlie Dark is not one of those people. He has gone above and beyond what is expected of a man in today’s world. He put his time into something which has literally played a part in creating families, relationships, businesses. None of that would have been possible without him. Without his drive, his passion and his love for people.

I can only hope that the time he gave us isn’t thought of in vein, but cherished and nurtured to inspire people to do more, be more, give more and be thankful for the opportunity.

Run Dem Crew has taught so many people some really valuable life lessons and in the nine years that it owned Tuesday nights, it taught people the importance of connection and time. The regular meeting of friends can have a profound effect on your life. It can at times, make you happier, even if it’s just for a while. What it really does is remind you that there are people in the world out there that care about you.

Charlie, we care about you. We care about Run Dem too and from the bottom of my heart, thank you very for everything. The time, the runs, the parties, the trips, the bridgethegaps (my God!), the epic medal speeches and the hugs.

I will carry your words of wisdom with me for the rest of my life.

You are a hero.

I won’t say goodbye, I’ll say “see you later”.

Peace.