Success! "RUN TO REMEMBER" to KEEP KIDS ALIVE!

First off, a quick link to the Miami Herald which featured KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25^®. See Back-to-school traffic safety: It's no accident

THE “RUN TO REMEMBER”

WAS INDEED A RUN TO REMEMBER!

Success! My sons, Michael and Matthew, and my brothers, Shawn and Mike, along with yours truly finished the "Run to Remember" as part of the Pike's Peak Ascent Trail Race before it finished us!

It is a special privilege each year for our family members to run in memory of those who have died in traffic incidents. Over the years, many of these families have connected with the mission of KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25^®. They are an inspiration to us, as are their loved ones we run to remember. You can view the list of all we ran to remember at "Run to Remember".

What follows is a short photo-essay of our journey up Pike’s Peak, America’s Mountain.

The day before the run on the top of Pike’s Peak posing in our running shirts beside the plaque bearing the words of “America the Beautiful,” written by Kathryn Lee Bates from atop the mountain in 1893.

Peering down from the summit of Pike’s Peak displaying the names of all those we run to remember. (If enough people are interested in having their own “Run to Remember” t-shirt, we can check into a limited run of 36 or more shirts. Let me know if you are interested and I will check the cost involved.)

At the starting line the morning of the Ascent – From L to R: Matthew, Michael, Tom, Shawn, and Mike

Mike Everson of Colorado Springs was the first to finish. He required a bit of medical attention, and thus was not able to photograph all of us as we finished. (He is fine, and would run again tomorrow.)

However, Mike’s good friend, John Garner, captured Michael (age 20 from Omaha) just before the finish line. Michael had a most enjoyable trip up the mountain as evidenced by the fact that he lost his shirt somewhere along the way.

Matthew (Omaha) ambled in a few minutes behind his brother.

Shawn and yours truly lagged behind, and thus were not captured on film crossing the line. But the finisher’s shirts attest to the fact that we did indeed finish.

It is with deep gratitude that we give thanks for the opportunity to run to remember so many wonderful sons, daughters, spouses, brothers, sisters, and parents. The encouragement of all truly made the difference in seeing us through to the summit.

We are grateful, too, for all the donors who supported the run and helped to underwrite the cost of t-shirts for family members of those we ran to remember. These families wore their shirts in solidarity with us on the 21^st. Jan Anstett of Redford, Michigan sent this photo. Her daughter, Erika, was one of the loved ones we ran to remember.

$1,225.00 has been raised toward our goal of $5,000.00. Thus, we have not been able to cover all the expenses attached to the “Run to Remember.” However, if you are in a position to donate, we welcome continued donations at "Run to Remember"

Or, checks can be sent to”

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25

12418 C Street

Omaha, NE 68144

Please remember, your generous giving keeps kids living.

We’ll “Run to Remember” in 2011 as well. Already two additional family members are interested in joining us for the race up the Peak. If you are interested in being a part of our team, please send me an e-mail or call 402-334-1391. We would welcome your participation. To learn more about what you would be getting yourself in to, visit Pike's Peak Ascent

Have a great beginning of the school year, and remember,

“Don’t let the 2 minutes you ‘save’ be the last 2 minutes of someone’s life.” David Townsend – Tia’s dad (We will "Run to Remember" Tia)

In safety,

Tom Everson
Tom Everson
KEEP KIDS ALIVE DRIVE 25^® - A Non-Profit "For Action" Organization 501(c)(3)
402-334-1391
kkad25@kkad25.org
www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org

Become a monthly supporter at KKAD25 Membership

Back to School Traffic Safety - It's No Accident!

Back-To-School Traffic Safety – It’s No Accident! By Tom Everson

On May 3rd, 2006, 8 year-old Shaye Martin was on walking on the sidewalk to Eugenia B. Thomas Elementary School in Miami. A few blocks from his destination he was struck and killed by a speeding motorist.

We hear the word “Accident” often. Anytime a crash occurs or child is hit by a car we hear it referred to as an accident. Yet how many tragedies, like Shaye’s death, are accidents? If a driver exceeds the speed limit on a neighborhood street, or any roadway, and hits a child walking on a sidewalk, crossing the street, or riding a bike, is that an accident?

Driver behavior is crucial to creating a safe environment for everyone using a roadway, or even walking beside it. Controlling speed is no accident. It is a responsibility that helps to insure safety for others and for ourselves. No one wants to be behind the wheel and hit a child, or pedestrian of any age for that matter. Safe driving behavior is no accident. It is a decision we make each time we get behind the wheel.

As school is back in session, the national non-profit Keep Kids Alive Drive 25^® is committed to working with communities to involve and educate residents to make neighborhood streets and school zones safer. It takes the commitment of parents, law enforcement, city services, schools, businesses, and city government working together to create safe streets for the benefit of all. Creating safe neighborhood streets and school zones is no accident.

In response to Shaye’s death, his father, Sean Martin, worked directly with Project Citizen at Miami Lakes Middle School to engage students in making a difference in creating safer school zones. As a result, the City initiated a local ordinance to reduce the speed limit entering into school zones. This is the “Shaye Patrick Martin Keep Kids Alive Safety Act.”

The intent of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 is to be proactive in our efforts in working with and through schools, neighborhood organizations, and local law enforcement and city officials to create safer roadway environments for the benefit of everyone. It should not take the death of a child to wake us up to the opportunity to make a difference today. Many communities begin by integrating Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 into "Safe Routes To Schools" initiatives.

Learn more about how your neighborhood, community, school, business, or civic organization can make a difference in creating safe streets for all. Visit www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org or call 402-334-1391.

Tom Everson is Founder and Executive Director of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25^®