Successful RUN for Safety

Post date: Jun 12, 2013 6:26:37 PM

Running for awareness, safety

by David Penner C-H editor | Posted: Tuesday, June 11, 2013 3:39 pm

JOHNSON LAKE – Nearly 250 people turned out at Johnson Lake on Saturday to pioneer the

importance of wearing seat belts and being defensive drivers.

The Sixth Annual Erika Joy Rowan Fun Run saw 246 people show up in running shoes and all manners

of hot pink T-shirts to participate in the 5k run/walk.

Saturday’s fun run marked the sixth year of the event, which celebrates the life of Erika Rowan who

was killed in a car wreck near Cozad. Jackie Rowan, Erika’s mother, along with her father, Erik, and

brother, Joshua, started the Erika Joy Rowan Foundation to pay for driver’s education classes for area

students learning to drive.

“We don’t have a total figure yet, but I can tell you we raised enough money to pay for 41 kids who

need funding for their driver’s education classes,” Jackie said. “The Erika Joy Rowan Foundation

funds area teens and pays for their driver’s education classes in full.”

With the huge success of this year’s fun run the Rowans were lucky to get the event in this year.

Thunderstorms rolling through the area threatened to make it a soggy event.

“I was praying extremely hard that God would allow the run to happen and if it had to rain to please

rain before and then after 10:30 a.m.,” Jackie said with a chuckle. “Lo and behold He heard me.”

The 246 people who participated in this year’s event are the most in its six-year history.

For Jackie and her family it means everything as they champion a cause to help save lives through the

use of seat belts and safe driving habits.

“I am extremely amazed and humbled at the people who continue to support our foundation and our

goal to help our teens to become better and more defensive drivers,” she said. “I see the love that

people have for our family and for our beautiful daughter and know that we cannot stop the fight to

save our teens.”

Jackie said that the safety of teens is in the community’s hands and that means continuing to find ways

to show new drivers how important it is that they wear their seat belts and do not text while driving.

Jackie said her world collapsed on Feb. 25, 2008 when her daughter’s life was cut short. Since then,

the Rowans have tirelessly endeavored to raise awareness for defensive driving among teens.

“I want everyone to know that everyone has someone who loves them and wants them here for the

future we so desperately want for everyone else to love,” Jackie said. “I want them to know that by