Parents turn tragedy of daughter's death into foundation to advocate safe teen driving

OMAHA, Neb. (The Catholic Voice) - Rob and Shari Reynolds have found a way to turn a tragedy into something positive.

The Omaha couple, whose 16-year-old daughter, Cady, was killed in a car accident last May, have started a foundation in her memory.

The C.A.R. Foundation -- named with Cady's initials -- was formed to educate teens about the dangers surrounding new drivers and how to become more responsible and alert when operating a motor vehicle.

The Reynolds said they started the foundation because after their daughter's death it became obvious that there was a real problem with teens and fatal accidents. Within months of Cady's death, three more car accidents claimed the lives of teens in the area, they said.

"This is a problem that is not going to stop. It's only going to get worse because cities are growing bigger, and technology is reaching kids at younger and younger ages and enticing them to do so much more than just driving an automobile," Shari Reynolds said. "It's going to be an ongoing problem and unless families like ours step in the forefront and tell other parents to really be careful of this, it's just going to get worse and worse."

Although their message is aimed at teens, the couple also want to educate parents about the need to monitor their children's driving and to continue their own instruction of their children's driving development.

"We want parents to reinforce safer driving skills and foster an understanding that driving is a privilege and a responsibility -- not a right," Shari Reynolds said.

Rob and Shari Reynolds have spoken to groups of parents about safe teen driving, and they plan to talk to teens about the importance of safe driving as early as this summer. In the fall, they hope to give presentations at area high schools.

Walk to raise funds

Next month, the Reynolds will sponsor the first annual C.A.R. walk to help raise money for the foundation.

The walk will be held May 31 -- the first anniversary of Cady's death -- at Lake Zorinsky in Omaha. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Five-mile runners will start at 9 a.m. and one-mile walkers or runners will begin at 9:05 a.m.

The walk is open to any age group. Families and students are encouraged to organize teams to walk together. The cost of $15 for students and $20 for pre-registered adults includes a T-shirt. Children's shirts are available for $7, but children under 5 can participate for free.

Funds raised for the foundation will help the Reynolds family purchase things like key chains and window clings to pass out to students during their presentations at high schools.

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Money also will go to brochures that will be sent home with the students and given to their parents prior to a presentation at the schools.

"It's a huge responsibility for these parents to allow their kids to drive a vehicle and they also need to take that responsibility seriously," Shari Reynolds said.

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This story was made available to Catholic Online by permission of The Catholic Voice (www.catholicvoiceomaha.com), official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Omaha, Neb.