On August 1, Vicki O’Halloran, a COCC student from La Pine, will begin a grueling, long distance run across the State of Oregon. Her mission: To raise awareness of the dangers of cell phone use while driving.
O’Halloran states that in April she crashed her car because she was reading a text. “Believe me, it only takes an instant to change everything. Thankfully nobody was hurt.”
The growing number of accidents resulting from the usage of cell phones while driving has become a major concern among law enforcement, state and federal government, and community leaders. O’Halloran hopes her endurance run will help raise awareness of this issue.
Her month-long trek will begin on August 1 from Government Island and continue 340 miles to the Oregon border south of Klamath Falls.
An avid distance runner, O’Halloran is a 21-year-old student at Central Oregon Community College. She plans to complete her education at the University of Oregon, majoring in dance with a minor in sports psychology.
She says: “This is my message: Don’t text or talk on the phone while driving! If it’s worth risking a life and changing everything…it’s worth pulling over.”
How People Can Get Involved
Sign the TXT L8R Pledge! Go to News Channel 21’s website and take the text later pledge! http://www.ktvz.com/community/txtl8r
Individuals and local businesses can sponsor Vicki’s run by contacting her through her Facebook page, Run Oregon. https://www.facebook.com/#!/RunOregonTxtL8r
Individuals who are interested in running or biking along with her for part of her running day can get information through her FB event page.
Her road crew will be based in the following cities on these dates:
Portland, August 1 – 3
Salem, August 4 -13
Sisters, August 14 – 15
Bend, August 16 – 18
La Pine, August 19 – 23
Klamath Falls, August 24 – 30
541-771-0550, vickirunnergirl@gmail.com, on Facebook at Run Oregon TxT L8R: https://www.facebook.com/#!/RunOregonTxtL8r/info
