Live Safe Foundation » OSU Burn Center

Rain or Shine Friends Finish the Race

Guest — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 03:54:58 +0000

Early this year, my friend Jill invited me to train with her to walk the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, Ohio. She had previously run the half marathon for Team Rise supporting the Phoenix Society, an amazing organization benefiting burn survivors. Team RISE was formed by the Everett family and has brought family and friends together for six years to run in the Flying Pig marathon to raise money for the Phoenix Society providing opportunities for burn victims to receive peer support programs like World Burn Congress and other burn recovery resources. I had never participated in an event like this before and I though it was a great goal to set for myself and it was for a fantastic cause. I spent any free time I could carve out walking. I bought a cool tracker for my mp3 player, downloaded some fast music and started logging the miles. I walked with my four-legged training partner, Rory and with Jill. We had a lot of fun laughing and crying during our training sessions. I’m pretty sure I came close to passing out during one particularly hilarious adventure. I even had to call my mom to come and pick us up because we were 3 miles from my car and I just couldn’t walk any further. I’m sure Jill was beginning to wish she could retract her offer, but she was stuck with me.

Post-race Hugs & Smiles!

The day came for us to drive to Cincinnati and meet the rest of our team. We arrived at the welcome dinner and met Sharon Everett who inspired the team. It is not a cliché to say she is one of the most amazing women I have ever met in my life. Her strength, grace and sheer will are overwhelming to me. I was, and am, in awe of her.

Sharon Everett was arriving home with pool chemicals in the back of her car. The chemicals mixed and she was literally engulfed in flames when they exploded. By some strange coincidence her neighbor had their garden hose in the front yard and he was able to try and fight the flames until the fire department arrived. She was trapped in the car and severely burned. She is missing fingers and facial hair and has significant scars from the multitude of surgeries necessary to save her life. But she has not lost her beauty or her courage. Her presence is powerful and her voice, uplifting. I knew after meeting her, walking 13.1 miles would be easy!

The next morning, I was worried about Jill. She wasn’t feeling well and hadn’t slept well. We decided we wouldn’t worry about keeping up with each other and we headed out into the downpour and started the race. After getting passed by runners for the first few miles, we set a good pace.

Don't Stop...you're almost there...the "Finish Swine"!

For those of you not familiar with the Flying Pig, they do an amazing job organizing the event. At each mile there are water and Gatorade stations. They even have entertainment or groups encouraging you along the way. There were local sports teams cheering us in addition to a barbershop quartet, an Elvis impersonator and a funk band.

After the rain, more rain, and still more rain, the sun finally came out and I finished the race several minutes after Jill. It was an amazing feeling. I was proud of myself for doing it and I was proud to walk for an amazing cause. I will do it again next year and many more years to come. Thank you Jill and thank you Team Rise and the Phoenix Society. I am a better person for the experience.

For more information about Team Rise and the Phoenix Society, please visit www.phoenix-society.org. Please contact the Phoenix Society at 800-888-2876 if you are interested in being a part of this event! Also check out the Flying Pig Marathon website for more details on the race!

A question asked most often, "Why the Flying Pig?"

We encourage you to run with us this April in Columbus, Ohio for the OSU Burn Center’s second annual family friendly Blaze the Trail 5K walk/run in honor of the Christine Wilson Foundation, as well as joining me and the rest of Team Rise next year, for the 13^th Flying Pig Marathon on Sunday, May 1, 2011, to run for a great cause.

About the Author: Melissa is the mother of 2 active boys and owner of FourMeter Project Management, Inc. with her husband of 12 years, Michael. She enjoys traveling, the Ohio State Buckeyes and learning more about educating children with special needs including hearing loss, ADHD and dyslexia. Melissa loves walking, reading and volunteering for charities that benefit children, the Homeless Families Foundation, as well as promoting fire prevention and education initiatives. Melissa is also a Board Member of the Live Safe Foundation.

21st Annual Golf Outing benefiting The Burn Center at OSU Medical Center

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 22:39:29 +0000

Fires consumes millions of dollars of property each year in the United States. These fires kill more than 5,000 people with 1,100 of them being children. Countless numbers, including firefighters, are injured in fires and struggle with painful burn injuries. The saddest fact of all is that it can be prevented by installing early warning devices (such as smoke detectors) and automatic fire suppression systems.

On Monday, October, 4, 2010, with the support of The Ohio State University Medical Center Service Board and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Central Ohio Chapter, will be hosting the 21st annual Golf Outing to benefit the Ohio State University Hospital Burn Center at the Country Club of Muirfield Village. Fire Protection industry supporters (OSU Medical Center Burn Center and Central Ohio Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers), come together annually to educate the public as to the extensive damage fire causes and how they can be a part of the solution to the problem by requiring properly designed automatic fire suppression systems not only where they work, but where they live, play, shop, go to school and worship. Since 1998 (traditionally kicked off during Fire Prevention Week) the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and its members have generously contributed $212,500 to the Burn Center at Ohio State University Medical Center. These funds have allowed the Ohio State Burn Center to continue to be actively involved in providing education on burn prevention and fire safety both to the community and the students on campus, as well as helping patients obtain special items or assistance such as compression garments which are not covered under insurance. The fund also provides direct support and assistance to patients, their families and advanced education to burn care nurses.

Funds raised from the event are allocated to enhance education and prevention programs, as well as patient care.

Education:

Community Outreach provides Burn and Fire Prevention programs at Fire Stations and schools.
On-Campus Community Outreach activities provide education and literature to students as they arrive or return to campus.
Ohio State’s Burn Center also participates in Burn Prevention Week, Fire Prevention Week and Homecoming activities to increase awareness of fire safety and prevention on-campus.
Provider Education is conducted through programs such as ABLS education to burn care givers, the Fire Fighter for a Day program, as well as, providing education to staff through conferences and seminars.

Patient Care:

Burn Discharge Dressing Kits have been provided to patients being discharged from care and are able to maintain care for their wounds at home.
Buckeye Burn Support Group provides professional support and guidance to burn survivors and their families to help survivors resume functional, productive lives.
Special items such as pressure garments, wigs, and equipment are purchased for patients who are otherwise unable to obtain these items.
Additional assistance is provided to help patients with special needs in obtaining housing and clothing.

Fire sprinklers and extinguishers can make a difference, and you can too. Let’s fight this burning issue together!

Come join us for a great day of golf with a a terrific Silent Auction, Raffle, Course Games, and a Check Ceremony. Come place your bid on a diverse group of items such as OSU Football & Basketball Tickets and….collectables, Bonsai Tree, Columbus Blue Jackets ….and much more!! The 2010 Golf Outing proceeds will be used to support the OSU BURN CENTER Development Fund. To register or sponsor, please contact Bob Dawson @ #614/602-2024 or Carl Sellke @ #614/882-1916 with any questions.

(If you have additional questions regarding Ohio State’s Burn Center education and programs, please contact Chris Casavant (OSU Burn Program Manager) at #(614) 336-8374.)

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making and fire and life safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.

Running for a cause – OSU Burn Center’s 1st annual Blaze the Trail

Jill — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:00:03 +0000

Welcome to the OSU Burn Center’s first annual family friendly Blaze the Trail 5K Walk/Run. Proceeds from this event will benefit The OSU Burn Center’s Development Fund, which allows the OSU Burn Center to provide people devastated by a burn injury with necessary post-discharge support such as dressing supplies and improved community re-entry. The Development Fund also helps sponsor the central Ohio Annual Family Burn Camp, host ongoing monthly support groups, establish community resources, and send non-physician members of the burn team to contiuning education conferences.

Where & When & How

Date: Sunday April 11, 2010
Location: Recreation & Physical Activity Center – OSU
Directions: CLICK HERE
Time: 9:00am start time; registration begins at 7:00am
Entry Fee: $25 through April 4th; $30 april 5th through race day
Awards:
- The top 3 male and female finishers will be rewarded
Course Map: CLICK HERE

How to Register
- Online: www.premierraces.com
- During packet pickup at Front Runner
- Mail Registration form with check payable to: Premier Races, 401 Charmel Place Columbus, Ohio 43235
- Race Day starting at 7:00am in the RPAC Lobby.
Race Packets
- All participants will receive a t-shirt and post race refreshments
Packet Pick Up
- April 5-9th, 10am-8pm; April 10th, 10am-6pm
  Front Runner, 1344 W Lane Ave, Columbus, OH
  Phone: 614-486-0301

Special Race Day Features:

Family Friendly event
Meet local fire fighters and explore an antique fire truck
Cotton t-shirts for all participants
Timing available for all participants
Music, Food, Awards

For more information about the OSU Burn Center or Sponsor information, please contact Jennifer Parks via:

Email: jennifer.parks@osumc.edu
Fax: 614-293-8785
Mail: 410 West 10th Avenue, Room 539 Doan Hall, Columbus, Ohio 43201
Or visit www.premierraces.com

Run for a great cause!

LiveSafe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. LiveSafe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. LiveSafe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.