My message hit too close to home...

[Running Mommy]

Some of you may remember that I participated in the "adopt an Ironman" program, and that my sons class adopted me. You may also remember that a huge part of my speech was about the importance of helmets.
In my speech I told the kids this:
"I know you may think, well I'm only going to ride up the street. Or I'm a good rider, so I won't fall. Well it's just like why we buckle our seatbelts in the car. No one ever gets in their car and says I better buckle up because I'm going to be in an accident today. You never know when it's going to happen. And alot of times it's not even your fault. So just like why we should always wear our seatbelts when the car is moving. You should always wear a helmet when your on wheels. Because you just never know. And it's not worth the chance".
Well the other night we went for a mtn bike ride and saw a roadside memorial next to a small tree on the sidewalk. I was perplexed because I hadn't heard of anything happening, so I asked around. I guess on easter a family had been picknicking by our lake and were heading home. The father was on a motorcycle, the mom and kids (2 daughters) following in a truck. They had just left the lake and were probably less than two miles from home. The fathers hat blew off, so apparently he turned to look back for it- instinct I'm sure- and he lost control of his motorcycle. He struck the tree and was killed. Now this tree is very small. The trunk cannot be more than 6 inches in diameter. Seriously! I'm actually surprised that the tree didn't break. Today when I rode by it I noticed that bark was missing, but thats it.
Anyway, the family saw him die in front of their eyes. Could you imagine?
Well I just got a call from Spencers teacher. She was in tears. Apparently one of the little girls is in SPencers class. Actually she was in his class last year, so I know her quite well. I guess she's been out until now. Well when she came back today she asked to speak to the class. So she stood up and told the kids "Mrs. AMos is right. You need to wear your helmets. If my dad had his on he would be here today. She was right when she said you just never know. So PLEASE wear your helmets"... The teacher - who is 8 mos pregnant and hormonal anyway- said she had to leave the room.
Ok, are you crying yet?? Because I am. I'm absolutely devastated. To think that a 9 year old girl has to go through someting like this... And it all could have been prevented by her father taking one little step.. sad, soo soo sad..
Anyway, I didn't mean to bring ya'll down, and I know I'm preaching to the choir... But if you ever get the opportunity to give a helmet speech, remember this story. Hopefully it will wake at least one person up.
have a safe weekend! And never take the day for granted.
Denise

[SadieKate]

Oh sheesh. I'm sitting on a conference call and trying not to sniff into the phone. Poor girl. Amazing she could speak up so soon after.

[DeniseGoldberg]

Denise -
I hate hearing stories like this - but while it's sad, I hope (and believe) that after hearing both your recommendation and that little girl's story that the kids in that class will start to really think twice before riding without a helmet. That's definitely a tear-jerker of a story.

And I also believe that I'm one of those women who owes her life to her helmet.
--- Denise

[bikerchick68]

how completely devastating for the family, friends, coworkers... accidents like this impact so many people... I hope the family will seek some group counseling... there is so much available out there for free... the emotional toll this takes is tough for adults to deal with and doubly so for children who haven't learned how to deal with their emotions yet...

I can't begin to fathom how this is impacting this family having witnessed the crash. just devastating...

[Duck on Wheels]

What a sad story, and what a brave little girl! I so wish the story had had a different twist, like mine: "Because he was wearing his helmet, my husband, my kids' father (and so on and so on) is still with us." I try telling that one to my students when classes begin every year, because I get so frightened and angry when I drive to campus through swarms of cyclists, ignoring traffic rules and NOT wearing helmets. Sadly, that message is probably less effective than this little girl's.

I sure do hope that your message, now also endorsed and tragically underscored by your son's classmate, gets taken to heart. I hope all the kids take that message home and nag at their parents to wear helmets too. My theory: It was kids nagging their parents that has tipped the scales on smoking so that non-smoking spaces are now the standard and smokers, if they can't or don't want to kick the habit, have to find somewhere to smoke where it won't bother or endanger others.

[Lise]

Oh, Denise, I am so sorry to hear about this. To have him just be gone like that. Gentle thoughts for the whole family.

I see cute guys on bikes sometimes, but if they're not wearing helmets, I think they also look stupid. Your story just goes to show it isn't only the mean streets of Chicago. One time I was driving with my then 5 year old nephew. He was looking at a motorcyclist in the next lane. "Aunt Lise", he said, "That guy isn't very smart. He doesn't have a helmet on." So glad that message is stuck in his head.