ABAC Fraternity reaches out to students before Spring Break - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

ABAC Fraternity reaches out for Spring Break

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By Cade Fowler - bio | email
TIFTON, GA (WALB) -

Students at ABAC will be on Spring Break next week. Before they leave one fraternity is spreading a lifesaving message. Today, Kappa Sigma teamed up with the Governor's Office of Highway safety and local law enforcers.

Kappa Sigma Chapters around the country participate in an event they call "My Brother's Keeper", it's a program that helps raise awareness of some of the dangers students face behind the wheel. But for the Kappa Sigma brothers at ABAC..it hits close to home.

Two Years, ago, the brothers of Kappa Sigma suffered a tremendous loss.  "Christopher Tatum was his birth name, May of 2011, he was killed up in Dooly County up along interstate 75," said Chris Cardin, Grand Master.

Not only did they lose a brother, but also a best friend . "Getting a call that your brother was killed is mind blowing and shocking at the same time," he said.

He was not wearing his seat belt. "He lost control of his truck, and it flipped over on the guard rail and he was killed on impact," he said.

Thanks to a $6,000 dollar grant from the The Governors office of Highway safety, the brothers of Kappa Sigma at ABAC are hoping to educate others on potential dangers before they get behind the wheel.

Georgia State Patrol Troopers and representatives from MADD, Tift County Sheriffs office and Tifton Police were on hand to help spread the word today at the "my Brothers Keeper Event." It promotes highway safety issues including alcohol education, impaired driving, speeding, texting and the importance of wearing your safety belt.

Students walking through campus were encouraged to stop and check out the event which included drinking and driving simulators and informational handouts.

Sheriff Gene Scarborough worked hundreds of fatal crashes during his years as a trooper. "It  destroys families it destroys lives and you never get that back. Every accident that's caused by texting or DUI is preventable," he said.

If they are able to touch one life walking through campus they say they made a difference. "We want to get the word out that hey this can happen to you, it happened to our fraternity..life is already short..why make it even shorter," said Cardin.

The brothers of Kappa Sigma have a message. They say don't drive intoxicated or impaired And don't text and drive.  "In brother Tatum's case..wear your seatbelt," he said.

Making all those decisions can save your life and the lives of others around you.

 

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