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^®

There Are No Acceptable Losses? Run to Remember to Keep Kids Alive!

In modern warfare we often hear reference to the phrase, "acceptable losses." In military terms, this implies that there is an "acceptable" number of casualties to be expected in order to achieve a goal, such as winning a battle or winning the war itself.

While the idea of "acceptable losses" is certainly open to debate (is it acceptable to die in order that others might experience freedom and justice?), when it comes to deaths and injuries that result from the use of motor vehicles, is even one death acceptable?

If we were to answer "yes" to this question, how would any of us approach surviving family members of victims of traffic incidents to explain why we believe that there are acceptable losses that go along with the privilege to navigate roadways throughout America, and throughout the world for that matter?

Further questions emerge, that include, can we justify deaths caused by speeding, all manner of cell phone use and other distracted driving behaviors, running stop signs and lights, tailgating, drinking and driving, ignoring school crosswalks when children are present, and not buckling up? After all, these are behaviors that are within our control. We are the ones who make the decisions behind the wheel. As such, we too, are the only ones who can make the decisions to change behaviors that lead to, on average, 93 loved ones dying on American roadways each and every day of the year. That is almost 34,000 deaths in one year. Are these deaths acceptable?

It is in memory of these 34,000 loved ones that each year several of my family members and I participate in the Pike's Peak Ascent Trail Race in Colorado as a "Run to Remember." None of the families of the loved ones we run to remember would say that the death of their daughter, son, mother, father, brother sister, grandchild or cousin was an "acceptable loss." And yet,the death of their loved one is a loss they grieve each day.

In part, the mission of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 is to do all we can to engage every motorist in being a part of creating a driving environment to push the needle to zero deaths - the only acceptable number. Just ask the families of all those whose loved ones have died and for whom we run to remember on August 21st on Pike's Peak.

Learn about how you can make an acceptable difference to combat all deaths on roadways at www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org. Why? Because there are no acceptable losses - not when the loved ones are yours.

In safety,

Tom Everson

Founder - Keep Kids Alive Drive 25

402-334-1391

Remembering Those Who Have Died This Week-Keep Kids Alive!

Each week in America hundreds of loved ones die in traffic incidents. They are our daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and friends. A simple "Google Alert" from the past week brings stories of tragic deaths from every corner of the U.S. These include:

• Wichita Child Dies, 8 Others Hurt
• Child Dies After Car Crash, Driver Missing
• Missouri patrol reports 10 dead in weekend accidents
• Pickup hits, kills boy on beach
• Child Dies in Crash
• Toddler struck and killed on U.S. Highway 24
• Boy Struck by Car in Georgetown Dies
• Child Killed in Four Car Collision
• 17-year-old dies after Melbourne auto crash floridatoday.com ...
• Teen girl dies, 2 others injured in DeKalb County traffic accident ...
• Darien woman dies after BMW crashes into two Hollow Tree Ridge houses; police ...
• 14-year-old Missouri boy dies in tractor accident - NBCActionNews.com

I invite you to do something to make a positive difference when it comes to making sure your loved ones and the loved ones of others arrive home alive from their travels today - whether around town or around the country. Visit www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org to make this difference.

"Don't let the two minutes you 'save' be the last two minutes of someone's life." Dave Townsend - Tia's Dad.

In safety,

Tom Everson

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25-A Non-Profit "For Action" Organization 501c3

402-334-1391

www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org

A Moral Imperative: Seeing Beyond Ourselves to Keep Kids Alive

Often we focus on the celebratory aspect of a teenager receiving his or her license to drive. It is a marker - a right of passage, a ticket to "freedom."

But what does this "freedom" imply?

My favorite definition of "freedom" is "the ability to love (or care) in all situations." This definition brings with it great responsibility. The first of these responsibilities when receiving a driver's license is the need for each of us to see beyond ourselves. This means we are responsible for every decision and action we make behind the wheel. We are responsible for observing speed limits, stopping at stop signs, observing all traffic signals and signs, maintaining safe distance between our vehicle and others, buckling up, slowing in the presence of children playing, bicyclists, pedestrians, and any obstacles that may impede our vision or create the potential for tragedy.

There is never an age at which these responsibilities expire. They are 24/7 commitments that we pledge to ourselves and everyone else on or near the road when we sign our name on our license. At its core, a driver's license is a commitment to the safety and welfare of all we encounter on roadways, including our own personal safety. If we all commit to take this responsibility to heart each time we get behind the wheel, we will find ourselves better able to exercise true freedom - to care for ourselves and others in all situations. Right this moment is not to early to begin.

"Don't let the two minutes you 'save' be the last two minutes of someone's life." Dave Townsend - Tia's Dad.

In safety,

Tom Everson

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25-A Non-Profit "For Action" Organization 501c3

402-334-1391

www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org

4 Feet: A Life & Death Difference - Keep Kids Alive

Dear Friends,

Last week my son was a front-seat passenger in a car that was broadsided by a large pick-up truck braking frantically at 45 mph. He and the driver were both buckled up. The car was hit on the rear side panel on the passenger side. Four feet of metal kept Michael alive, coming out of the incident with a mild seat belt burn. His friend was okay as well.

4 feet - 48 inches - not much space at all; a little over a yard on a football field. It puts the gift and fragility of life in perspective. It can be the difference between sharing a meal with loved ones or planning a funeral.

Studies conducted by Virginia Tech demonstrate that the 3 seconds prior to a crash make all the difference. There is no stopwatch that begins these 3 seconds. They play over and over again with every moment we are behind the wheel. That is why it is critical to make driving the number one priority - not speeding, not texting, not eating, not running stop signs or signals, not tailgating. These all represent behaviors that sooner or later bound to lead to a crash - one that could have been avoided/prevented if only we gave driving and the rules of road our full and undivided attention.

May each of us observe the rules of the road so that we return to our loved ones and our loved ones return to us each day. And may we remember every loved one who has every died or been permanently disabled as a result of a motor vehicle incident. They too remind us the difference that 4 feet can make.

"Be Aware! Drive With Care"

Tom Everson

www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org

Keep Kids Alive - We Have Met the Enemy

Walt Kelly, who penned the comic strip "Pogo," is renowned for writing these words:

"We have met the enemy, and he is us."

When it comes to confronting what needs to be done to make pedestrians, cyclists, and all motorists and passengers safe from speeders, tailgaters, stop-sign and stop-light runners, drivers who don't know how to use blinkers, and those who don't buckle up and become human projectiles, along with all manner of distracted driving - cell phones being the latest incarnation, it all comes down to our behaviors.

We can in fact be the solution we seek. We don't need to look to law enforcement and traffic engineers to solve every problem. Behavioral problems begin and end with the person engaging in the unsafe, uncaring behavior. The question for each of us is, "When I look in the mirror, do I see the solution or the problem?" And then, "If I honestly see the problem in my driving behaviors, am I willing to change to become the solution that prevents deaths and injuries - of the loved ones of others, and, quite possibly, my own loved ones as well?"

The answer to meeting the enemy starts with each one of us.

In safety,

Tom Everson

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25

www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org