“Run for 51” Honors Slain Student

Gettys Middle School students are planning an event in memory of a student who lost his life to domestic violence last year.

The “Run for 51” will be held in memory of Daniel Gabriel Smith, a 9^th grader at Easley High School. Daniel and his mother Sandra Lee Michelle Smith Thomas were killed August 30, 2012 by Daniel's stepfather William D. Thomas, who then killed himself.

Gettys Middle School Language Arts teacher Cindy Whittemore said Daniel's death effected her greatly.

“I just thought that, because it effected me so much, maybe we could do something to partner with the high school, especially the ninth grade class, in memory,” she said. “Because the high school teachers didn't know Daniel as well as we did here, because he would have just been in school for about eight days.”

Whittemore spoke with Sonya Bowles, Easley High School National Honor Society advisor, about joining together for special project.

She also spoke with Daniel's girlfriend Brittany Johnson.

“She was really enthusiastic about coming onboard,” Whittemore said.

Whittemore then contacted Safe Harbor about assisting them with the event. From that meeting, the event got its name,

“The Run for 51,” she said. The name commemorates Daniel's team number with the Green Wave.

The event will be held Saturday, April 20 at Easley High School.

All participants will be running or walking starting at the school's track.

“Because this event is going to be bigger than possibly we anticipated, the course is going to come out of the track field and go around campus,” Whittemore said.

The run itself begins at 10am, but the event will kickoff with an opening ceremony at 9:45am. The NJROTC will present the colors. GMS 8th-grader Kelly Horton will sing the National Anthem.

Mayor Larry Bagwell will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

“Then we will have Daniel's family start the race,” Whittemore said.

Participants will run or walk for 51 minutes, Whittemore said.

At the end of the race, participants will come back to the track area. Brittany Johnson will speak and a check will be presented to Safe Harbor.

The pre-registration period is now over, but registrations are still being taken. Registration is $20. Children are encouraged to participate. Children's registration costs $5.51 for children up to fifth grade. Checks can be made out to Gettys Middle School and dropped off at either Gettys Middle or Easley High School. Registration forms are available at both schools.

Donations for Safe Harbor will also be collected during the event.

Whittemore has enlisted the help of her leadership class, made up of officers and members of the school's National Junior Honor Society.

On Wednesday, Leadership students collected donations at the school's car line and raise more than $120.

“We're just excited that we're seeing the participation coming in,” Whittemore said. “It's a really good way to bridge our middle school and high school communities together. So many in our communities knew Daniel. His death impacted us in many different ways.”

“It's amazing how much the community has come together for all us,” said Kaitlyn Root. “We've talked to Party Party Place about getting balloons and everything like that, and they've graciously offered to take off half the money that we've put into it. Everyone's actually coming together. It's amazing to see how well we're actually coming together.”

She said it was amazing to see other communities offering their support.

“We have people from Pickens and Wren amd I think we have a few people from Greenwood also coming, because they've heard how much of an impact it has taken on the Easley community, and they feel like they need to come over here and be with us during this time.”

Reagan Baumgarner said the youth offering at Easley First Baptist Church's Wednesday service usually goes to mission trips or United Christian Ministries.

“Last night's offering from youth all went to Run for 51,” he said.

A track and field athlete, Root remembers Daniel coming to practice several times.

“He was a really good kid,” she said.

In addition to helping Safe Harbor financially, event organizers hope to raise awareness about domestic violence.

“It is in our community, it is in our classrooms,” Whittemore said. “It's okay to speak up if it's happening in your classroom.”

Whittemore taught Daniel last year.

“He wore a mask everyday,” she said. “I never picked up on it, and I'm pretty intuitive. I never got a message that something like this was going on. It's painful to think about, that I might have students like Daniel in my classroom this year. There's just no way to tell.

“We want to make awareness, we want people to come forward, to know that it's not okay to live like this and that there are organizations to help, like Safe Harbor,” Whittemore said. “We hope people will start talking and not feel reluctant, because we think that kids this age are either embarrassed to say things to their peeps or adults or scared to say something to their peers and adults, because they know they have to go back home to that situation.”

If you're not able to attend the run, donations can be dropped off at the GMS office.

“No donation is too small to help prevent domestic violence,” Whittemore said.