Who Wants To Be An Author? 8/24/25

Who wants to be an author? Listen in on the conversation!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Thanks so much everybody for staying tuned in this very
extremely important conversation. We're talking to Lisa Toakes, the mother
of Reagan Tolks, who I cannot believe it's been eight
years since her beautiful daughter was kidnapped, raped and murdered.
And I hate to keep saying that, Lisa, but I
don't want to discard the reality of how horrible, how

(00:22):
horrible that nightmare was for you and your entire family.
I don't know if you saw I sent you the
picture of my Facebook page, my personality profile page, because
I wanted you to look at all the comments that
these people have made about your awesome, beautiful daughter. How
so many people remember her, how this horrible tragedy affected

(00:45):
their own lives, some not even knowing her. In fact,
we had somebody call into the station. Producer Zach, who's
back at the six ten studio, said that this guy
Greg just called in and said he wanted you to
know that he visits Reagan's memorial once a month. He
had no connection with the case, but this story and
this case just hit him hard, and a lot of

(01:07):
people simply care about your daughter.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
We have succeived over the years has been incredible and
we're so grateful for it. And you know, it was
something that when this tragedy first hit our family, there
are so many ways that you can move through it.
And for me, working in ways to make something productive

(01:35):
and positive from something so awful and ugly and not
letting that darkness be the pervading scenario was so important.
And it's been very difficult, but like I said, through
the support of family, friends and those whom we don't
even know, as well as the grace of God, we

(01:55):
have been able to do some really amazing things in
Reagan's memory and honor, and I know she would be proud.
And the Reagan Delaneytokes Memorial Foundation to this point has
awarded over four hundred thousand dollars worth of scholarship money
to well deserving students to help with their continuing education.
And we have a race coming up this October again,

(02:20):
it's a five k run walk at Syota Grove Metro
Park on October twenty six. And the fact that somebody
mentioned that they visit that garden that is so important too,
because growing up in Ohio and metro parks and whatnot,
our family spent so much time there and had so
many incredible memories, and so to have Reagan so tragically

(02:43):
taken from us in a metro park that had such
a dark, ugly sensation around it, and I was not
about to let such a beautiful place of nature have
that and cloud that area in Tieto Grove in Grove City,

(03:07):
and the people at the park, all of the workers there,
the designer. We created this beautiful memorial garden that is
representative of all the things that Reagan loved about nature
and the outdoors. And it's now a place of peace
and tranquility. And it's not only just for Reagan, it's

(03:29):
but it's for people to go and have a place
to connect and to feel grounded and to experience the
beauty of nature and the sounds and reflect you know,
whether her story touched their lives or whether there are
loved ones that they're connecting and missing. That was the
intent of it. So I'm so happy to hear that

(03:51):
it's impactful and meaningful to others, because that was the intent.
And you know, obviously we have the race there and
we finish with a time of meditation or in reflection
in Reagan's garden, and it just allows us to feel connected,
and you know, the evil does not get to win.
The beauty and love and light are the components that overshadow.

Speaker 1 (04:16):
We could talk to you forever. Unfortunately we are out
of time and we are up against the break. But
where can people go and get more information? If they
want to be involved in this event in October, they.

Speaker 2 (04:27):
Want to be involved, they can type in rally for
Reagan five ks and it should take them to the
Columbus Running Company page where there is registration. You can
always reach out to us as well at rally at
rdtms dot com and we can provide additional information through

(04:48):
that link as well.

Speaker 3 (04:50):
I'm so so happy for all that you've been able
to do, Lisa, with the money you've raised for scholarships.
I know there's a whole training component on self defense
that you also have done over the years, have done
a lot with that. Thank you for what you're doing
for our state.

Speaker 2 (05:07):
Really, thank truly her. I appreciate the ability to have
a platform to continue to voice what we're doing, and
I just thank everybody for the continued support and we'll
keep fighting and everybody else please keep fighting as well.

Speaker 1 (05:19):
You always have a platform with us for sure, and
like you said, Eva will not win and her legacy
will live on forever. Lisa, Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 2 (05:28):
Thank you, thank you.

Speaker 1 (05:30):
This is what matters.