Ripple effect of how comedy show, laughter spread awareness & save lives

A moment of laughter changed the course of a life, and now that man is using the experience to inspire others.

Ron Blake was born and raised in Northern Indiana. He is sharing his story of sexual assault and how he has overcome severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

“There was a night that three men came into my home in downtown Phoenix and I was held down, I was beaten and raped. The details of that night they really are horrific. I mean, it was a struggle for a long time after that,” Blake explains.

Blake describes his battle with dissociative amnesia and PTSD following that night in 2011. On November 2, 2015 he says it all became too much.

“That night I stared at the television before taking any pills and it was the show called The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. On there, this comedy show, something made me laugh. It was that, just that moment at 10:44 that night I paused the TV and I just thought, I can’t do this. There’s still something good left in me,” said Blake.

An unexpected moment of laughter during a late-night comedy show became a pivotal moment and for Blake the difference between life and death.

The next day, Blake decided he was going to dedicate his life to sharing his story, while trying to get on The Late Show. Every person he spoke with would sign a poster board in support.

“It would confirm that I got out of the house. I met people and talked about what happened to me and that I had a goal,” said Blake.

Jay Harrigan was one of the first people to sign the board.

“He was committed to his cause. That was his eye opening experience, what saved him from probably suicide as I understand it. That night watching The Colbert Show is what gave him a reason to live,” Harrigan remembers.

Harrigan became emotional, thinking about how far Blake has come and what could have been, if not for that moment of laughter.

“He has more than the population of his hometown signing his boards now,” said Harrigan.

509 boards to be exact, 33,437 signatures and counting.

Blake estimates his reach is even more. His Ted talk, school visits, and letters reaching people, some of which he never meets in person.

He has dedicated nearly 10 years to the cause. The original goal was to be a guest on The Late Show, but the impact has become so much more.

“As time went on, people said can I put more than just my name or initials?” Blake said what started as just signatures has turned into people sharing their stories on the boards.

Blake now carries with him the stories of thousands of people penned to boards supporting his mission. People that have overcome their own trauma. They include messages of support and hope, that life is worth living.

As for that moment of laughter that started it all, Blake says he may never know what the joke was, but the impact it had will last a lifetime.

“The important part of that night wasn’t what was coming in me. It was what was leaving me. The fact I recognized I could laugh,” he said.

Blake says he may never make it on The Late Show, but the project has become so much more. He remains on the journey for himself and also for those that have stories to share… just like him.