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Girl Scout Organizes Marathon to Promote Driver Safety

The 5K race is scheduled for June 18 at Alderman's Ford Park.

She's seen it repeatedly while driving around the community -- residents, especially teens, texting while driving.

"Everyone takes driving so lightly," said Bloomingdale High School senior Liz Hinckley. "I was driving one day and looked to my left. There was someone texting while driving. Then I looked to my right and there was someone else texting while driving. It's so dangerous. People don't realize the risks they're taking.

To get the word out on the dangers of texting while driving and other reckless driving habits, Hinckley is organizing a Drive Safe 5K June 18 at Alderman's Ford Park off County Road 39 in Lithia.

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At the race, she will ask participants to sign a pledge to drive safely. Each person signing the pledge will receive a beaded bracelet made by Hinckley that spells out messages such as "No Texting" and "Drive Safely."

It's all part of the Bloomingdale resident's effort to earn her Gold Award in Girl Scouting. The Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can achieve.

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"It's the equivalent to the Eagle Award in Boy Scouting," said Hinckley, 18. "You have to perform 60 service hours and complete a project to earn the Gold Award."

Hinckley came up with the idea of hosting a marathon for her project because she's a runner. She runs both cross-country and track at Bloomingdale High School.

"I love running cross-country in particular because it gives you time to get in the zone," she said. "I just get in touch with nature and lose myself. So it seemed only natural to do an event that involved running."

And the cause, driver safety awareness, is near and dear to her heart, she said.

"I don't care if I have 50 or 500 participants," she said. "If I can impact one person's life, I've achieved my goal."

The daughter of Dina and Mark Hinckley, the teen became involved with the Girl Scouts when she was 6 years old and joined the Daisy Scouts. Her father was in the military and the family frequently moved around. Girl Scouting was the one constant in her life no matter where she lived, she said.

"Every time we moved, I always knew I could join a Scout troop and make new friends," she said. "I find it rewarding, and the bonds you make last a lifetime.

"Plus, you learn so many new things in Scouts," she added, pointing to various badges on her Scout brag vest. "I even earned a patch for learning how to maintain a car."

She noted that she was even able to join a Scout troop when her family was transferred to Italy.

"My troop leader, Kathy Louder, was wonderful," Hinckley said. "She took us on a trip to Germany." Hinckley has remained in touch with Louder who now lives in Gainesville and plans to attend Hinckley's 5K event.

In addition to Scouting, running was something Hinckley could participate in no matter what school she attended. She began running in the ninth grade while living in Italy, and continued running when the family was relocated to Virginia, then Florida.

These past two years at Bloomingdale High School, Hinckley also has been involved in the chorus and orchestra. She was among the choral students who had the opportunity to travel to London to participate in the New Year's parade there.

In addition, she's a member of the Bloomingdale Leo Club and the music honor society, Trium.

She plans to attend Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Meyers in the fall to double major in music education and performance.

For her upcoming 5K race, Hinckley has enlisted the help of local businesses including Beef O' Brady's on Bell Shoals Road, which held a Spirit Night for her, raising $200, enough to purchase T-shirts for the first 100 race participants.

Steve Dunn of Hit the Trails on FishHawk Boulevard is helping Hinckley publicize her event among the running community.

Starbuck's on Lithia-Pinecrest Road has donated coffee and mugs as a raffle prize and Bikeworks in Winthrop Town Centre donated $20 toward her project.

She's currently seeking a business where she can hold a fundraising car wash to earn money for awards for the race winners.

Hinckley also plans to have free post-race refreshments available and a craft table for kids.

Anyone wishing to contribute a raffle prize or donation can contact Hinckley at drivesafe5K@yahoo.com or call her at 813-317-5361.

In addition to the 5K race, which begins at 8 a.m., Hinckley is organizing a kid's fun run at 9 a.m. The cost to participate is $10 for adults and $5 for children before June 1, and $15 for adults and $10 for children after June 1.

Registration forms are available at www.drivesafe5k.weebly.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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