Woodstock Couple Honored For Keeping Kids Safe

WOODSTOCK, GA -- A couple from Woodstock was recently honored for their volunteerism by having an award named after them.

Safe Kids Cherokee held their annual Appreciation Luncheon March 20 at the Cherokee County Administrative Offices at The Bluffs in Canton.

Tim Cavender, PIO for Cherokee County Fire and EmergencyServices spoke about the importance of volunteerism. He announced that the members of Safe Kids Cherokee have proposed a new award honoring a member(s) for their service to the organization.

The first recipients of the award were Ann and Jim Segers of Woodstock. Ann and Jim have been involved with Safe Kids Cherokee since its inception and previously worked with Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Service for numerous years before retirement. After they retired, they continued to support Safe Kids Cherokee with their events and activities. It also was announced that the award would be named in their honor and will be known as the Ann and Jim Segers Volunteer of the Year award.

Kathi O’Brien, was the event’s featured speaker. She has shared her story with thousands of high school students during the annual Ghost Out events that are held at area high schools in the county each year. On December 5, 2008, Kathi’s son, Tyler, was involved in an automobile
accident that took his life. According to Kathi, Tyler broke every rule in the book regarding driving safe. At the time of his accident, he was speeding, not wearing a seat belt and texting. Kathi shares her horrific ordeal with students hoping they will take driving an automobile seriously and play it safe while on the highways.

Safe Kids Worldwide is a nonprofit organization working to help families and communities keep kids safe from injuries. Most people are surprised to learn preventable injuries are the #1 killer of kids in the United States. Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services is the Lead Agency for Safe Kids Cherokee.