Joanne Oostveen -The Weekly News
It has been nearly four years since 16-year-old Mary Beth Chaulk was killed in a crosswalk on Portland Street.
The Prince Andrew High School student's legacy lives on in an annual March blood donor clinic and this year is no different, said her mother Tina.
"If the blood donated saves some other child's life then Mary Beth's life was not in vain," she said. "People should always have hope."
The clinic will be held March 11 at the Canadian Blood Services building at 1940 Gottingen St. in Halifax from 11 a.m. till 7 p.m.
Chaulk said her daughter wanted to be a doctor and this is the perfect way to remember and celebrate the life of a girl who touched the lives of so many people.
After four years, Chaulk said she is surprised and happy to still be in touch with the young people who counted themselves as the lucky friends of her daughter. They show up every year for the blood donor clinic, call on the anniversary of Mary Beth's death, Mother's Day and constantly text the family.
They have not stopped caring over the past four years, said Chaulk.
"People should learn a lesson from these young people," she said. "They have been amazingly supportive of my family, it is too bad that most of the news about youth is negative. These young people are going to be the leaders of tomorrow."
Chaulk said her daughter's friends continued presence in her life has been a huge joy.
"It is bad enough when your child dies, but when no one mentions her anymore it is like a second death," said Chaulk. "These kids have not been afraid to do that. They have been open with their grief and they keep Mary Beth's memory alive."
Some of the youth have gotten tattoos as reminders of Mary Beth and all have said they never want to forget, she said.
"When Mary Beth was near death there were 80 people standing in the room and 60 of them were teenagers," said Chaulk.
The teens raised money after Mary Beth's death by selling bumper stickers and bracelets. They raised enough for a scholarship fund, funeral expenses including the headstone, equipment for the neonatal unit at the IWK and sponsorship of a child in Indonesia.
"These kids worked their butts off to raise this money," she said. "I want people to know that I am proud they were my daughter's friends. This has been the single most amazing thing we have experienced the most over four years, the support of the kids."
Chaulk has been an active advocate of side walk safety but said she cannot take the task on herself. She shows up at rallies if she is needed, but said some days she just can't be there for the long term work that has to be done.
"Change happens very slowly," she said.
joanneoostveen@accesswave.ca
