'We Want To Keep Her Name Active': Fundraiser In Honor Of Lindsey Rose Parke, 19, Who Died After Car Crash

EAST MEADOW, NY — The heavy loss of Lindsey Rose Parke has been felt by family, friends, and community members throughout Long Island. As a way to honor their "firecracker" daughter and her passion for service and the outdoors, the Parke family will be hosting a memorial slow-pitch softball tournament on Sunday.

The fundraiser will be on April 26 at the Eisenhower Park Pavilion and Fields in East Meadow, with all proceeds donated to local charities that will support EMT, fire department foundations, and baking classes, among others.

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Lindsey's passion for supporting others has come through in her life's work, as a volunteer at Levittown Fire Department, a NYS-certified EMT, and most recently, at the Hyperbaric Chamber in Plainview Hospital. She had only one day of training before the nurses' strike put her position on hold, and she tragically never made it back.

Lindsey Rose Parke and Alexa Duryea, both 19-year-old girls from Levittown, were killed after a car crash in Hicksville on the night of Jan. 23, Nassau County police said.

According to officers, a 23-year-old man lost control of his vehicle, with Lindsey and Alexa as passengers in the car, police said. The man, who pleaded not guilty on Jan. 30, was driving at more than twice the posted 40 mph speed limit with 100 percent full acceleration and no braking, the Nassau County DA’s office said.

Her mother, Annette, and sister Haley both described Lindsey's beauty from inside and out – from her kind heart to her "firecracker" spirit. Lindsey was always baking, waking up early to see the sunrise, and bringing her friends and family together with activities and holidays.

"She's definitely the glue," Annette previously told Patch.

Lindsey was the one to get the family outdoors, whether it was jet skiing, boating, ATV riding, or snowmobiling — and now, the family is doing it for her with the softball fundraiser.

Her legacy will live on in her family, friends, and all who knew her, all agreed.

"We want to keep her name active," Edward, Lindsey's father, said.

The memorial slow-pitch softball tournament will begin on Sunday, April 26, at 1 p.m. at Eisenhower Park Pavilion and Fields in East Meadow. Limited spots are available. There will be raffles, prizes, and a BBQ. To enter the tournament for a $500 team entry, call or text Meg at 631-312-4647.

The winning team will receive a free jersey set sponsored by ROC Athletics, and the MVP will receive a custom ROC softball glove. There will be two divisions, the League/Rec team and the Upper team (E, D, C, B, and A). Some of the tournament sponsors include Jim Dandy Cleaners and Restoration, Bryan's Construction, East End Construction and Renovations, All Shore Restoration, and Champion Adjustment Co. LLC.