A Pinellas County couple is making sure their son’s legacy lives on.
Veronica and Stan Bryant’s son, Phil, was 23 years old when he died of skin cancer.
“He was diagnosed with melanoma,” Veronica Bryant said. “His spot was on the right side of his forehead. He had surgery, went through chemo. But at the time of the diagnosis, it had already spread a little bit to the lymph nodes.”
Now, the Bryants put on an annual event to celebrate Phil’s life. It’s called Phil Phest, and R.E. Old’s Park in Safety Harbor set the stage for this year’s celebration last month.
Along with food and music, there are also free skin cancer screenings, which are available all day.
The main focus is education to keep others from having to deal with the heartbreak they experienced.
“He was your everyday kid that just loved to be outside, swim, play football, surf and he was well-loved,” Stan Bryant said.
The celebration ended with a balloon release, each with the name of a loved one who has passed on.