The sixth annual Lacey Day will take place this Sunday, Oct. 7, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Holy Name of Jesus parish hall, at 701 E. Gaul St. in Fishtown.
The event is held in memory of Lacey Gallagher, a Little Flower High School senior who died in a 2007 automobile accident.
Tickets cost $30. There will be refreshments, food by Cav’s Catering, a performance by the Exceptions, music by Keep ’Em Dancing DJ Eric and a Chinese auction.
Proceeds benefit the Lacey Gallagher Memorial Scholarship Fund.
For more information, visit www.thelaceyfund.org or call Frank Gallagher (267–972–7455) or Bill Dolan (215–783–7907).
Donations can be sent to the Lacey Gallagher Memorial Scholarship Fund, 2657 Almond St., Philadelphia, PA 19125.
Lacey Gallagher was 18 when she died on April 28, 2007, following her senior prom. She and six friends were riding in a sport utility vehicle on a wet and foggy night at about 3 a.m. on the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Northeast Extension, south of the Quakertown exit, on their way to the Pocono Mountains.
The driver lost control of the vehicle, which hit a concrete barrier and rolled over before landing on its roof. Lacey was ejected and killed, while her friends were taken to the hospital with injuries.
None were wearing seat belts. Drugs and alcohol were not factors.
Lacey was the second oldest of four children of Frank and Denise Gallagher.
After the tragedy, the Gallagher family and friends pushed for driving reforms and established the Lacey Gallagher Memorial Scholarship Fund to assist students in local Catholic high schools.
Last year, Gov. Tom Corbett signed a bill that created “Lacey’s Law,” which requires that:
• Drivers ages 16½ to 18 are permitted to transport only one other passenger under age 18 for the first six months that they have their licenses. Exemptions apply for family members and if a parent or legal guardian are in the vehicle.
• All drivers and passengers under age 18 must be buckled up or properly restrained in a child safety or booster seat. Failure to do so would be a primary offense, meaning that police can pull over a vehicle if an officer suspects someone is not wearing a seatbelt or properly restrained.
• Permit holders must take behind-the-wheel training for 65 hours, rather than 50. Ten of the hours must be after dark, and five must be during inclement weather.
Here is the list of the scholarship recipients for the 2012–13 academic year:
Sara Armbruster, Susan Blaney, Kelsey Broadbent, Madison Comey, Alexa Comey, Rachel Fox, Natalie Gallagher, Allison Grubb, Carlie Hodolitz, Patrick Michael Madgey, Kenneth Mason, Katelynne McMonagle, Alexandria Milligan, Joseph Minissale, Alexa Jo Palmer, Theresa Pearce, Peter Joseph Pritz, Meghan Sears, Maeve Sears, Vicki Smith, Brendan Steinbrecher, Laura Stewart, Victoria Van Buskirk, Kirstin Wilson and Olivia Wnek.
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215–354–3034 or at [email protected].
