Families and friends of FORS,

I have arrived at a decision that I have been trying to make for some time now.  Effective December 31^st of this year, I am terminating Families for Roadside Safety.  For five years our organization has met with more success than I could have ever hoped for.  We have saved more lives than I could have ever anticipated.  I have met friends that will be mine for life.  However, I also have had to face tragedy on a daily basis.

So why would I choose to end such a successful organization?  Our organization had only one place left to go and that was up.  It could only get bigger and I found that I could not effectively manage a bigger organization without sacrificing the time that is my family’s.  I have no regrets for the time I spent with this organization, but it is time for me to put my family first.

It is important for me to end FORS on a positive note rather than with regret or sadness.  As our final action, we will do a billboard campaign in North Carolina.  Whatever funds we still have by the end of October will go directly to the billboard campaign.  So, this is your last chance to donate to a cause you truly care about.  We still have quite a few bumper stickers available and t-shirts of various sizes (sold out of Large) from small to 4XL.  If you have an interest in purchasing these items, please do so as soon as possible.  You can download an order form at http://www.f-o-r-s.com/home/move-over-store/.

I began FORS because our community lost two amazing men.  I take comfort in knowing that Troopers Calvin Taylor and Anthony Cogdill’s deaths helped bring about change in order to save the lives of others.  I hope their families could find peace knowing that.  Please don’t forget about supporting Calvin’s and Anthony’s memories by taking part in events held annually in their memory.  Go to http://www.calvinetaylortoyride.com/ for information about this year’s Calvin Taylor Toy Ride and to the bottom of http://www.f-o-r-s.com/home/donate/ for information about this year’s Anthony G Cogdill Memorial Golf Tournament.  Please also continue to keep Michaela and Tye Blanton in your thoughts and prayers.

As I said, we would like to raise as much as we can before October 31^st in order to fund as many billboards as we can in North Carolina.  I will share the information with you as soon as I have it.  To make your final donation to FORS, please go to http://www.f-o-r-s.com/home/donate/.

I am still working out other finalizing details, so please don’t forget we are still here until December 31^st.  I hope you will find it in your heart to take on educating your own communities.  For information on how to educate your own community, please visit http://www.f-o-r-s.com/home/educating.

Thank you so much to everyone for all of your support over the last five years.  Please know this decision did not come easily.

Respectfully,

Lara Feinberg

President & Founder

Families for Roadside Safety, Inc.

141 Spirea Drive

Waynesville, NC  28785

www.f-o-r-s.com

Lara@f-o-r-s.com

AOL IM…MoveOverLawMom

Please, MOVE OVER & SLOW DOWN for Stopped Emergency & Public Service Vehicles…

Our Lives Depend On It!

So are some strange questions for you:  Have you ever gone to sleep wearing earplugs?  If you have, then you will understand what I am referring to.  The sound of your own breath and the beat of your heart.  There is something incredibly calming about it.  What about those of you who have slept curled up next to someone ?  Holding someone or being held so closely that their heartbeat becomes your own.  And babies…have you ever had one sleep right on your chest?  The purity and the innocence of feeling their breath and heartbeat so close to your own brings out a feeling of love so deep that it makes your eyes tear.  You would do anything for them, wouldn’t you?  The ones you hold so close to your heart.  You would literally put your lives on the line for them.  Their world becomes more important than your own.

So what about the men and women in law enforcement?  What about the men and women in the fire and rescue world? Do you realize that they have made the choice to do the same for you?  Their lives.  They have chosen to risk their lives for you…people they do not even know.  Each and every day they put on their uniforms, walk away from the ones they hold so close all to protect and serve…you. 

I would not ask my husband to do anything else.  I have never been so proud to be married to a North Carolina State Trooper than I am now.  I have seen this band of black and silver  (and the families behind the badges) come together like never before…all because of a child’s heartbeat.  We have all lost before.  We have tried to stand by the families who have buried their loved ones.  This time seems somewhat different.  This time all we can think about is the beating of an innocent heart. 

Today, Tye is still fighting.  His beautiful and courageous mommy still by his side.  The love of his grandparents, his aunts and his uncles that will him to grow stronger.  Then comes the community in which we live.  I am not talking about our town, our county or even our state.  Our entire nation has sent prayers, gifts and wishes of hope.  In a time of uncertainty about our future and the world in which we live, we have found a way to come together because of the heartbeat of one baby boy.

As the wife of a state trooper, I have been unbelievably humbled by the outpouring of support for Trooper Shawn Blanton’s wife and baby, Michaela and Tye Blanton.  Several weeks ago, I was “cyberly” introduced to a man named Joe Grace.  One day Joe and his girlfriend were driving I-40 and passed where Shawn was killed.  That was when Joe turned to his girlfriend and said, “We need to do something.”  Joe happens to be the president of the Blue Ridge Mustang Club.  For thirty-five days Joe worked on organizing a car show and fundraiser for Michaela and Tye.  I was fortunate enough to meet Joe this past Friday.  Saturday morning I joined him, three hundred mustangs and classic cars and hoards of volunteers at the Biltmore Square Mall in Asheville, NC.  I arrived at 9:30 in the morning, three hours after most of the other volunteers arrived.  These men and women came together all to say “thank you” to our law enforcement and emergency personnel.  Do you know how many of these volunteers (including Joe and his girlfriend) knew Shawn, Michaela and Tye?  Not a one.  They all came together, to raise over $11,000 because of one reason…the son of a fallen North Carolina State Trooper is fighting for his life.

Two weeks earlier, I stood with my children in Canton, North Carolina to hopefully see a few motorcycles pass through as part of a fundraiser rally for Michaela and Tye.  I was expecting to see a few hundred motorcycles.  What I didn’t expect was over 4,000.  A guy who owns a bar in Asheville who did not know Shawn, Michaela or Tye wanted to do something to help.  He asked a few of his friends to join along.  His 4,000 friends raised over $40,000 that day.  My nine-year-old daughter looked up at me as we stood and watched.  Over the roar of the engines she asked why they were doing this.  I told her because of one reason…the son of a fallen North Carolina State Trooper is fighting for his life.  That is when we both began to cry.

There is much, much more.  There are so many other ways you can get involved, too.  Go to our “donation info” page at http://www.f-o-r-s.com/home/donate/ and scroll down to see what other fundraisers have been planned.  If you can’t help, all we ask is that you continue to pray.

One final thing, please remember to MOVE OVER and SLOW DOWN for stopped emergency and public service vehicles.  Their lives depend on it.