In less than four months, the California Highway Patrol has lost four members.  Two shot during traffic stops, two run over during traffic stops.  The latest death [Gregory J. Bailey, 36, a motorcycle officer who pulled over a suspected drunken driver in southeastern California on Saturday night, was killed when he was struck by another driver who allegedly was driving under the influence as well] came one day after the MOVE OVER LAW was re-introduced by California Senator Joe Simitian.  The law was vetoed last year by the California governor.  It was reported that the law was vetoed last year because the governor felt his state’s highways were to busy for a move over law.

So as numbness reins across the hearts of the family and friends of the California Highway Patrol, we can certainly offer our thoughts and prayers.   I can almost guarantee you that the spouses of the CHP are not sleeping well.  As they watch their husbands or wives put on their uniforms, they take a deep breath and hold their heads up high.  Once the door closes and the patrol cars pull away, the tears begin.  They will dread every phone call and pray that the next patrol car pulling into their driveway is their spouses.  There really is nothing we can say or do to make it better for them except pray.

For the spouses and families of law enforcement officers, fire fighters, emergency responders, etc. we live our lives day by day.  Yes, we know the dangers.  Every one of us has heard the question…”Don’t you worry?”  Yes, we do.  It makes it even harder when we hear of the tragedies.  I know my updates don’t make it any easier.  For that I am sorry.  However, we cannot change people or raise their awareness unless they know what weighs so heavily in our hearts.  We have to talk about if for no other reason then to bring our loved ones back home when their shifts end.

Is there more that we can do?  Why do we have to wait for more tragedies to occur?  Each and every day I hear of another roadside tragedy.   Their are scores of people across our nation that are trying to prevent roadside tragedies.  Politicians like California Senator Joe Simitian and especially North Carolina’s Rep. Ray Rapp, organizations like Responder Safety Institute and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and many spouses like Alicia Larkins (whose husband, Trooper Todd Larkins of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, was killed in a roadside tragedy last summer) are working to prevent these senseless tragedies.  Now we have more help…

Earlier this month the national media came to our rescue!  Our first phone call was from Good Morning America!  The FORS websites received more hits in the 48 hours following their Roadside Dangers story than we had received in a year’s time!  After Good Morning America, we were contacted by CNN as well as Fox News!  Thank you to GMA for getting the national media ball rolling!  We can only hope that more networks, national and local outlets, will continue with their efforts.  THE MEDIA IS SAVING LIVES, TOO!!!!!!  If you know anyone in the media (TV, radio or paper) that would be willing to help shed additional light on roadside dangers, please forward this e-mail to them.

In our FORS February 2006 Update, we began our first official fundraiser.  We have received over $1400 in less than three weeks!!!!  Thank you SO much to those who have sent in donations!  If you have not had the chance to send your donation, it is not too late.

For those who are not sure about what we are doing, here it is…I mentioned that I honestly do not have the ability or time to put together a large fundraiser where we invite people from all over to come walk 5 miles to raise money for FORS.  Although I would love to spend a beautiful day outdoors with all of our supporters, I cannot.  My priority is my family and have taken so much time from them already. 
This is our fundraiser…

First, forward this e-mail to EVERYONE you know.  Print it and take it to work, church or your favorite coffee shop.

Second, please get out your checkbook.  Please write a check for $5, $10 or $25.  If you can do more then bless you, but we are grateful for $5 if that is all you can do.  Make the check payable to FORS.  Sign it.

Third, put a stamp on it and mail it to:

Families for Roadside Safety (FORS)
141 Spirea Drive
Waynesville, NC  28785

Please help.   However much I want to spend two months planning a wonderfully outrageous fundraiser, I cannot.  I would rather spend two months protecting those who protect us.  I know I have asked for donations before.  Thank you to those who have been able.  This is a new year.  We are a 501(c) nonprofit organization which means tax deductions.  Send the check.  If you have a co-worker sitting next to you ask them to write a check as well.  Save a stamp and mail them together.  Whoever you eat lunch with, ask everyone to forgo their dessert and include their dessert money in the envelope…trust me I know that is asking a lot.  I did not ask anyone to give up coffee money.

Final Note:
Our next Move Over Symposium will be on Friday March 10th from 9am -12noon at the AB Tech-Enka campus near Asheville, NC.  Stan Cogdill (Trooper Cogdill’s father), Tim Hayes (medic from Mecklenburg Co., NC who lost his legs in a “struck-by” accident timhayes.org) and myself with be speaking.  Thank you to Melissa Norman with Buncombe EMS for organizing the symposium.

For directions to the AB Tech-Enka Campus go here.  Avaliable parking will also be on the left.  Conference will be held in first building on right, 2nd floor. There will have directional signs up at campus entrance. 

Our fundraiser continues as soon as I hit “send.”

SEND…