Kelli’s C.R.U.S.A.D.E, Making Sure Your Teen Stays Safe on The Road
By Harper Finley, BEAT reporter
BRUNSWICK, OH- This year, more than 30,000 teens have been involved in a type of car accident in Ohio. Kelli’s C.R.U.S.A.D.E is trying to lower that yearly amount by teaching teens skills to help them avoid crashes.
Kelli’s C.R.U.S.A.D.E, which stands for Continuing Road Upgrades, Safety Awareness, Driver Education, is for teens driving safely on the roads. In this program, teens learn facts that they might not learn in Driver’s Ed. Some skills taught at their program are winter driving, crash avoidance, emergency brake techniques, proper hand and steering techniques, and more.
Kelli’s C.R.U.S.A.D.E started in July of 2012 by Sharon Baker and her husband, Rick Baker. It started in memory of their 17-year-old daughter, Kelli, after she passed away from a crash on her way to school. Baker believes, "Skills taught in our AVOIDING THE CRASH class could have saved her life.”
Fundraisers help to make Kelli’s C.R.U.S.A.D.E possible. Their 5th annual Designer Purse Bingo Brunch will take place on October 10th at Williams on the Lake, 787 Lafayette Road, Medina, with over $10,000 in purses given away. Tickets ($65/person) will go on sale August 15th at 10:00am.
To apply for any future class, you have to be between fifteen and a half to twenty years old, have at least thirty hours behind a wheel, and need to have a valid permit or driver license. In the future, Baker wishes to continue giving many teens skills that are not taught in school or drivers ed classes. She also wants to spread more information to others so their foundation can get more involved in High School.
As Baker said, “Kelli’s C.R.U.S.A.D.E is passionate about teen drivers’ safety and the education they receive to become licensed drivers.”
To learn more or make a donation, visit: https://www.kelliscrusade.org/
Harper Finley, Brunswick Middle School, is one of over fifty student “backpack journalists” (grades 6-12) in the award-winning BEAT Video Program. The program, celebrating its 25th year, is sponsored by Donut Land, Plum Creek Assisted Living Community, MODA Gifts, Scripps Howard Foundation and the Brunswick Rotary Club. Go to https://www.bcsoh.org/community/new-beat-site to learn more about the Program, or visit https://thebeat.viebit.com/?folder=ALL to view videos produced by the students.
PHOTOS: Photo One- First place ribbon from one of their benefit horse shows.
Photo Two- Skid car used for one of their lessons.
Photo Three- Kelli, whose memory inspired the organization.
Photo Four- Students at one of the classes.
Photo Five- Information sheet for the upcoming Bingo fundraiser.