By AUBRIE GEORGE
The Marlton Telegram
Two local families who have lost children to tragedies on the road are continuing their mission to equip every school within the Lenape Regional High School District with interactive driver training simulators through fund-raising events planned for this summer. Dan Fitzpatrick, father of Ryan Fitzpatrick – a Shawnee student killed in a car accident last April, and John Farrace, father of Cherokee student Anthony Farrace who was killed in a 2007 crash, have teamed up in the past to donate money raised through their sons’ memorial funds to the district. The donated money has been used to purchase simulators at Shawnee and Cherokee high schools.
Fitzpatrick said the families’ goal is to provide each district school with four simulators. In the future, Cherokee may need additional simulators because it’s the biggest school, he said, however their initial goal is to make sure each school has four.
Shawnee currently has all four simulators and, thanks to a recent golf outing held in memory of Anthony Farrace, enough money has been raised to supply Cherokee with a fourth simulator.
The two plan to now work toward the purchase of simulators for Lenape and Seneca.
Farrace said a new simulator costs about $18,000. However, the district has been working with the manufacturer to purchase the simulators refurbished for about $10,000 each.
Fitzpatrick is currently spearheading a battle of the bands event for July 31 at Shawnee’s varsity stadium.
Eric Shourds, a former Shawnee student who played football with Ryan, contacted Fitzpatrick to see if he could help.
He said he had been hearing about the work being done to purchase simulators for the district and was interested in gathering friends who are in bands to put together a concert to raise money, Fitzpatrick said.
The Ryan Fitzpatrick Memorial Fund Battle of the Bands is an alcohol- and smoking-free event that will kick off at 5 p.m. rain or shine. Tickets are $20 each, which includes a raffle for a flat screen TV.
For additional information about the event, sponsorships, or to purchase tickets, call 609-668-1055 or 609-864-6911.
Farrace is also planning an event called the Anthony J. Farrace Memorial Fund Splash and Dash, a swim and run biathlon, scheduled for July 7 at Marlton Lakes.
For more information on the Anthony J. Farrace Memorial Foundation, visit www.anthonyjfarrace.org.
All proceeds raised through both upcoming events will go toward the purchase of additional simulators for the district.
Fitzpatrick said the recent death of another district student, Deanna Ormerod – a Lenape High School student who was killed in an accident this March – reminded the families how important their effort is.
“Right away, John Farrace and I talked and we said ‘We can’t stop here, we need to keep going with this,’” Fitzpatrick said.
Farrace, whose family experienced another recent tragedy when his parents, sister and niece were hit, head on by a teen driver – leaving his parents in critical condition – while on their way to an event in Anthony’s honor, said he hopes the simulators will help teen drivers “to be safer and more responsible behind the wheel.”
He said use of the simulators will help to keep others on the road safe as well because they help teach teen drivers how to drive more carefully and responsibly.
Farrace also hopes to eventually implement legislation in New Jersey and in Pennsylvania so that drug and alcohol testing is done immediately following a fatal crash and so that teen drivers who cause fatalities are held accountable and have their licenses suspended immediately, he said.
Fitzpatrick said if use of the simulators helps to save the life of at least one teen driver, their mission is successful.
“All in all, the final results are that if we save just one teen driver’s life who has maybe been through the program with the simulators and he or she simply remembers to buckle their seatbelt and is an accident where the seatbelt saves their life, well then the results of everything that we’re doing are priceless,” Fitzpatrick said.
The simulators, made by Virtual Driver interactive, are used in drivers education courses and allow students to actually sit in the drivers seat with a seatbelt, wheel, gas, breaks, and three monitors in front of them.
Students are taken through a virtual training program, which simulates dangerous driving situations and weather conditions, without actually putting the student driver in harm’s way.
The program adds guides and pointers to the student driver’s environment that help point out dangers or recommended driving positions, according to the company’s Web site.
While not meant to replace the six hours on the road that new drivers are required to have, Fitzpatrick said the simulators help drivers to understand the different functions of a car before they actually get behind the wheel and can also teach students how to drive in certain difficult situations all while in the safety of the classroom.
Loading ...
August 20th, 2010 at 4:26 am
Hello,
i am very interested in learning more about your generous idea in helping your school communities. I currently owned and operate a driving school in Guam. And i totally agree about the VDI program is very crucial to our young teens entering the world of operating a motor vehicle. I too would like to know more on how to have the business industiries help me purchase these VDI. I am a small business proprietor and the economy is very bad here in Guam. All your help and advice is greatly appreciated.
sincerely,
carmen babauta
carmen’s driving school
p.o. box 23772
barrigada, gu 96921
671-777-2276