Working Together to Spread the Word about Safety

Pictures

Indoor Results

On Saturday, May 14, 2005, Safe Kids Coalition and GT Speed joined forces to bring safety to the community. Each year, GT Speed hosts a practice meet for beginning skaters in Columbus called the NTF. This year, for the first time, there was also an outdoor event to teach beginners about the different kinds of racing styles. For many of the skaters, this was their first experience running an outdoor race and it can be scary outside the safety of a skating rink. In conjunction with the NTF, and working through the Safe Kids Coalition of Columbus, kids were brought from the low income apartments in town to attend a safety clinic. The kids listened to veteran GT Skaters discuss skating technique, proper helmet fitting and obeying the rules of the road. In addition to roller safety, the kids were also treated to a fire safety class (stop, drop, and roll!) given by the fire department, a basic CPR demonstration given by the local EMTs and gang avoidance techniques. At the end of the clinic, each child was given a brand new helmet, which was properly fitted.

From 4 year old Braden Williams to Grand Veteran Kathryn Hyzer, the first NTF Outdoor event was a huge success. However, probably the most touching event was the fun roll, in which all beginning skaters – those without uniforms and wearing skates of all descriptions, took a lap. Long after the rest of the skaters finished, there was one left. Joseph had heard about the event on TV and convinced his dad to come to the track and check it out. He registered for the fun roll and received his t-shirt, but had never competed before. When it was obvious that he would lag far behind the rest of the skaters, a proud moment occurred.

Without prompting from their parents, the NTF competitors skated out to the track and escorted Joseph to the finish line, cheering him on and encouraging him all the way! Afterwards, parent Jason Hill, taught Joseph how to tie his skates and had his two boys come over and explain racing to him. But the touching moments weren’t over yet. After the safety clinic, the participants stayed to watch the rest of the racing. They were there to watch the NTF awards ceremony where the skaters received their medals. At the end of awards, and without hesitation, 15 NTF competitors with medals, took their medal off their own neck and placed it around the neck of one of the 15 clinic participants to give them encouragement. This was truly a fantastic way to kick-off the first ever Columbus Outdoor NTF!

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