Student Donates Funds To Safe Kids Cherokee County

CANTON, GA -- A Sequoyah High School student recently donated a little more than $300 to an initiative that works to protect children from unintentional injuries in Cherokee County.

Shea Speidel, a senior at the school, presented a check for $309 to Safe Kids Cherokee County last week at the Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services' administrative offices.

The funds were raised by the student's senior project, which was to organize a 5K to help educate residents about the importance of fire safety. The run was held Nov. 20 at Etowah River Park in Canton.

“When I was younger, I remember the Fire Safety House coming to my elementary school to demonstrate issues on fire safety,” stated Speidel. “It really impressed me, so I wanted to help with the fire safety program."

Proceeds from the run were presented to the fire department, which is lead agency for Safe Kids Cherokee County. Safe Kids is a global organization dedicated to protecting kids from unintentional injuries, the number one cause of death to children in the United States.

Throughout the world, almost 1 million children die of injuries each year, Cherokee County fire said.

Photo: Front row, from left to right, are Shea Speidel, Cherokee County Fire Chief Tim Prather, Cherokee County Fire Marshal Barry Gibson and Fire Educator Babette Davis. Back row (left to right): Chad Arp, Deputy Fire Marshal and Lead Advisor for Safe Kids Cherokee County, Fire Inspector Lt. Michael Priest and Fire Educator Pennie Lamanac. Credit: CCFES