10/18/2024
A Year of Grief, A Lifetime of Resolve
Today, my heart is heavy with memories. One year ago, Malibu lost four bright lights – Niamh, Peyton, Alsha, and Deslyn – in a senseless tragedy that shook our community. Their lives were cut short by a reckless driver, a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of fighting for change.
Their loss reignited a fire within me that has fueled my work for safer roads for nearly 15 years. In 2010, our daughter Emily was taken from us far too soon. Her memory gave birth to the Emily Shane Foundation, a testament to the power of love to transform grief into action.
This past year, we've made progress. Speed cameras now monitor PCH, and plans for a safer roadway are in motion. But progress is not enough when lives are still being lost. We owe it to Niam, Asha, Peyton, Deslyn, and Emily to do more and better.
That's why the Emily Shane Foundation (emilyshane.org) is hosting a Community, Awareness, and Action Day this Sunday in partnership with Pepperdine University. We'll gather to honor the memories of those lost, educate our community, and demand change. I invite you to join us and voice our call for action.
But we need your help to make this event a success. Please support our 100 for 100 campaign ( https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/d12ea4dd-acad-40ea-802e-ad1b287208bf) and help us empower the next generation to value life and safety. Together, we can create a PCH where ghost bikes are a relic of the past, not a constant reminder of tragedy.
For a deeper look at the impact of these losses, the progress we've made, and the work still ahead, I invite you to read my column https://malibutimes.com/driving-change-you-live-as-long-as-the-last-person-remembers-you. Let's make a difference together.
Join us this Sunday at Pepperdine's Alumni Park from 11:30-2:30.