Inaugural Run For 51 A Success

The first "Run for 51" event was a smashing success and planners say it will become an annual event.

The event, held in memory of Easley High School student Daniel Smith, raised more than $7,000 for Safe Harbor, which provides safe shelter, counseling and advocacy for victims of domestic violence in the Upstate. 

The project was a joint effort between the National Junior Honor Society of Gettys Middle School and the National Honor Society of Easley High School.

Gettys Middle School teacher Cindy Whittemore said more than 400 people registered to take part in the Run for 51. Whittemore's Leadership class helped plan the event.

Runners and walkers pledged to run or walk around Easley High School for 51 minutes in honor of Smith, who was killed last year along with his mother Sandra Lee Smith Thomas, by his stepfather.

Smith wore Number 51 jersey for the Green Wave.

Following the run, participants came back into the stadium for the closing ceremonies and presentation of the check to Safe Harbor.

Brittany Johnson, Daniel's girlfriend at the time of his death, said the event was a chance to reflect and remember.

"Because of our loss, we are now on a mission of awareness about domestic violence," Johnson said.

Whittemore, Johnson and Safe Harbor Executive Director Becky Callaham then flipped the check over. 

Johnson was visibly shocked at the amount raised by the inaugural Run for 51. 

Callaham thanked everyone for the donation.

"For the past 51 minutes, we've been thinking about Daniel and his mom," Callaham said. "Those families that are experiencing domestic violence, they go this every day, 24 hours a day."

South Carolina ranks second in the nation for deaths due to domestic violence.

"Daniel was not alone in experiencing domestic violence," Callaham said.

Safe Harbor provides an array of services to domestic violence victims in Pickens, Anderson, Greenville and Oconee Counties, including an emergency shelter "for 54 moms and their kids, who can just get up and come to us in the middle of the night if they need to."

Educating the community is also a part of Safe Harbor's mission.

"One in four women will experience domestic violence in their lives," Callaham said. "One in three dating relationships are violent already. So we know it's happening before that ring goes on that finger or before they become adults.

"All of us can play a part in teaching young folks that healthy relationships are relationships where it's not okay to demean or torment the person you love the most," she continued.

Through its REP program, Safe Harbor would like to teach every middle and high school student "what healthy relationships look like."

"SO we don't have to have people coming in to our shelters, so we don't have to have those horrible statistics," Callaham said. "This is not just a tragic death, it's senseless. We shouldn't be here today."

Whittemore said donations are still coming in. Sam's Club and Jack in the Box, which provided water and food for the participants, each made additional pledges during the Run for 51, she said. 

"It exceeded our expectations," Whittemore said. "Our goal was $7,700 and although we met it, we thought it was too far to meet - but we did."

The Run for 51 will be a yearly event.

"Brittany and I just talked about it," Whittemore said. "Definitely a yearly event, and when she gets to be a senior in high school, we'll talk about it and see if we want to go in a new direction at that time. We're going to have a Run for 51 for four more years, definitely."