After a brief hiatus, the Save a Life club is back. This years club leaders, seniors Sarah Levy and Stephanie Starr, are working with video and technology teacher Don Goble to promote Save A Life’s message within the Ladue community.
“At its root, the message of Save a Life Campaign encourages courage,” Goble said. “It encourages young adults to make smart life decisions and to be a positive influence in the lives of their friends and families.”
Within the next year, the club hopes to make a name for itself in the district. Leaders plan to participate in various volunteering opportunities around the community and build mentoring relationships with Ladue’s youth.
“We are working to build recognition slowly, by going into elementary schools, and maybe even working with DARE officers to help connect with the younger generation of kids,” Levy said.
The leaders at Ladue are also working to uphold the message of the nationwide Save A Life campaign. Originally founded in the Ladue area in 2006 by Dave and Fritz Fahrenkamp, the Save A Life Campaign honors the memory of their son, Colin P. Fahrenkamp, who died in a car accident in early 2006.
The national campaign spreads their message through a public service announcement contest, which originated at Ladue, and is currently run by Goble and the heads of the Save A Life national campaign. The first PSA came from Goble’s students, until the Fahrenkamps asked him to produce one of his own. The video gained national attention when it aired after The Fray’s live performance during VH1’s “Big in ‘06” show.
“We were able to use the song ‘How to Save A Life’ by the Fray, which was the last song Colin Fahrenkamp downloaded before he died,” Goble said.
With such a strong following in the national community, the leaders of the Ladue chapter are optimistic about how their ideas will contribute to the Save A Life club’s efforts.
“It’s definitely the little things people can do, that could make a big difference in some one’s day, or even their life,” Starr said.
These “little things” can range from putting the phone down while driving, helping someone pick up dropped books, to intervening in a potentially dangerous situation, like stopping a friend from drinking and driving. These actions let students get involved in making a better community for Ladue.
“If you can find a way to slow down, think about your actions and choices, you’ll be amazed at the incredible opportunities you may be presented with,” Goble said. #
