Run hosted to raise awareness about distracted driving

By Ally Hansen, Staff Writer

The Distracted Driving 5K and Fun Run to benefit the Focus Driven Organization is scheduled for this weekend.

The Focus Driven Organization advocates cell phone-free driving.

The run will start at 8 a.m. Saturday outside Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center.

It is open to students, faculty and community members.

“We should work on getting more awareness out and encourage people to stop driving when not paying attention,” said Kara Klamm, elementary education freshman.

This year Dallas Hutchinson, who lost his life due to distracted driving, will be honored. His mother will speak at the event.

“Distracted driving affects everybody,” said Brandi Gibson, director of university counseling.

Gibson knows the effects of distracted driving.

She lost her oldest stepdaughter, Emily Gibson, to distracted driving in 2009.

Emily Gibson was a sophomore at the University of Central Oklahoma, in Edmond, when she died in a car accident on Broadway Extension.

“If we can just save another life…That’s our goal,” Gibson said. “We can keep another family from having to go through that.”

After the death of her stepdaughter, Gibson wanted to bring the cause to campus.

In 2010, Gibson brought the idea of a 5K to Student Government Association.

Last year 125 runners participated.

Registered runners are invited to a pasta party March 8. The party is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Room 151 in Walker Center for Arts and Sciences.

A portion of the proceeds are going to the Focus Driven Organization. Donations may also be made on their website, focusdriven.org.

Contact Karen Vann at kvann@okcu.edu or Gibson at bgibson@okcu.edu to enter or volunteer.

The registration can be completed up until the morning of the event.

Registration is $5 for students, or $15 with a T-shirt.