Chelsea King

In San Diego, we know all too well how 17 year old Chelsea King, a senior at Poway High School took a fatal jog in February, 2010 when she ran into a coward and a rapist who ended her beautiful life. Chelsea’s family has made it their lifetime goal to share Chelsea’s heart with all of us. It was my daughter, Lindsey, whose heart is made up of pure gold, who motivated me to add Chelsea’s memory to my list of social entrepreneurial ventures. My motivational writing and performing has always included my vocabulary teaching, drunk driving awareness, and personal safety for women. For several years, I have distributed personal pink pepper sprays to be attached to key chains as a means of protection. No one could have predicted the magnitude of this beautiful light whose life was extinguished in San Diego on February 25. It seemed to greatly change Lindsey as well. Her anxiety began to take on a life of its own. In middle school, Lindsey had begged me to rescue her from the maddening crowd and it led to a year of private home school which eased her transition into the tumult of high school. Chelsea’s senior year was Lindsey’s senior year. A parent always wonders what their life would be like if tragedy visited their home? What would life be like if insensitive and intrusive reporters started to invade your private life? In Florida, when my son, now in his 30’s was a little boy, John Walsh (America’s Most Wanted) had his life turned upside down when his son Adam was kidnapped and killed. One didn’t need to have a boy Adam’s age to f eel their pain, but it seemed to make us hurt more. A movie came out, Without A Trace about another young boy who disappeared while on his way to the bus stop. The tears which followed his safe return after months of anguish, make this film one which is the definitive cinema for movies which make us laugh, cry and think. What a powerful message that film sent. It was another February in San Diego when still another little girl, Danielle, went missing from the bedroom of her upper middle class home. Her next door neighbor had snatched her in the night. How does one account for such a monster? Lindsey was 9 at the time. Danielle was 7. Lindsey was too young to realize the enormity of the community loss, but we knew and the image of Danielle’s little hand print captured from the window of the killer’s RV, made me shout BASTARD at a TV screen during the killer’s trial. I even spent a day in the San Diego courtroom to be in the same room with this worthless human being. I must have been searching for something that day. Chelsea’s death sent Lindsey into a tailspin. Every strange person she encountered became a threat. She immersed herself in Chelsea’s life and death, made a video tribute and posted it online. When Chelsea’s Light Foundation was born and an annual run/walk was scheduled for Balboa Park, Lindsey had to be there. She met extended family of the slain girl. I had to be there as well. Now, Chelsea’s foundation is working with me, partnering with my new play, Baby Boomers and helping me distribute shiny pink whistles to girls and women. If it can help save the life of a single woman, it will be worth it. When I first wrote the foundation, I asked if pepper spray might have helped Chelsea on that dark day. I liked their timely response: • 7:30am Expand Show Images Chelsea's Light Thanks for participating in our run. Its a powerful reminder that we need to protect our kids.She owned pepper spray. she was taken without notice in a public park. She never ran with earphones as she enjoyed the sounds of outdoors, very alert to all around her.- she was the rabbit on her cc team, setting the pace for the first mile (about 6:10) -- she was attacked without warning by a6ft 2" 240lb coward. If confronted she would have ran or used her other skills( fighting etc) I expressed interest in working with the foundation and Chelsea’s dad was the one to respond. • Chelsea's Light Steve- Sorry for the delayed response- I have been very busy getting our law closer to being passed in Ohio and Illinois. Yes we have interest. Can you email me directly at brent.king1784@gmail.com so I can then get our exec director, Robin, connected to you and learn more details-- thanks Brent King Looks like we have something special here and we have only just begun.