With a spike in PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST FATALITIES ACROSS THE SOUTHLAND victims turned advocates Teams up
with City officials in a unique event to support and make safer streets
3-1/2 years ago Finish The Ride was started by Damian Kevitt with the help of bicycle advocates, state and city officials, after he lost his leg due to a gruesome hit and run crime in Griffith Park. Continuing the original message of Finish the Ride, “Triumph Over Tragedy”, Damian is working with CD 12 Councilman, Mitch Englander, and other city officials to not only reverse the recent spike in traffic fatalities but support the tens of thousands each year across the southland who have been severely impacted.
While traffic injuries and fatalities were on a multi-year decline in Los Angeles, the last couple years have seen a dramatic spike, with total collisions up by 21% compared to this time 2014. Even more gruesome, traffic fatalities in Los Angeles have jumped by 39% in the last year alone, per LAPD statistics.
Determined to use his personal tragedy to help others, Kevitt created Streets Are For Everyone — SAFE, a street safety organization — and has been working with city officials like Councilman, Mitch Englander to reverse this spike.
Kevitt’s desires to help others has resulted in a one of a kind support service for those impacted by the nearly 52,000 traumatic traffic collisions in LA County each year. This service is called SAFE Support, and some of the first people Kevitt’s organization has helped, like 22 year old Cesar Centenos, who also lost his leg this year in a hit and run while cycling, are now personally “finishing their ride” in this year’s Finish The Ride event.
This Finish the Ride event, now in it’s 3rd year, is called a “Holiday Challenge”, and appropriately so. The event has been expanded from the original cycling event to include not only cycling, but running, walking and rolling (hand cycles, wheel chairs, roller blades, etc.) and is partnered with Southern California Cyclocross (a closed course bicycle/obstacle course race). Besides its efforts to raise awareness, Finish The Ride is raising funds through donations and sponsors like Wilshire Law Firm to continue to provide free assistance to those who need a helping hand after a traffic collision.
More Information
SoCalCross: Â socalcross.org
Finish the Ride: Â finishtheride.org
WHAT:
Finish the Ride Holiday Challenge
WHO:
Damian Kevitt, Executive Director, SAFE
Select individuals who have been helped by SAFE Support
Athletes and participants of Finish The Ride
WHEN:
Sunday, December 11th, 2016
Opening Ceremony at 7:55 am
Interviews available afterwards at 9:40 AM
WHERE:
Woodley Park
1604 Woodley Ave
Van Nuys, CA 91416
