DANBURY, Conn. A 17-year-old Connecticut girl made headlines and inspired a social media campaign after she died pushing her friend out of the path of an oncoming vehicle.
Rebecca Draper Townsend died July 2 after being struck by a vehicle while crossing Lake Avenue in Danbury, Connecticut, according to News Times. The recent high school graduate was going to watch fireworks with former classmate Benjamin Arne, 17, who was also struck by the car. Arne was transported to Danbury Hospital in serious, but stable condition, News Times reported.
After Townsends death, her sisters and cousins were sitting in her room sharing stories about her when they discovered a bucket list she had written as a sophomore for a class assignment, according to BuzzFeed News. The bucket list included three wishes: to fly to Spain, to kiss in the rain and to save a life.
Townsends sister, Victoria Townsend, told BuzzFeed News that over the years, Rebecca completed the first two items on her list when she traveled to Spain with her family and kissed her boyfriend in the rain.
After Arne was released from the hospital, he visited the Townsend family and told them Townsend had pushed him away from the car and saved his life. The family realized Townsend had completed her bucket list.
He said, The last thing I remember is Rebecca pushing me and telling me to hurry up, Victoria told BuzzFeed News. It was a little sign that she was OK.
Townsend had been accepted to the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, and had planned to attend the school in the fall, according to New York Daily News.
The Townsend family launched the Facebook Page Remembering Rebecca as part of a social media campaign to honor her and to encourage others to be kind and pay it forward.
Rebecca was passionate about service work and charities, constantly working to better the lives of others, the Remembering Rebecca Facebook Page said. For this reason, we have made this page where people can share a memory or document ways they have kept Rebecca's spirit alive by showing kindness to others. Whether paying for a meal, volunteering time, or donating to a cause, we all have the opportunity to pay it forward every day, just as Rebecca strived to do.
The story and #RememberingRebecca campaign has since gone viral with thousands liking the page.
Rebecca Draper Townsend died July 2 after being struck by a vehicle while crossing Lake Avenue in Danbury, Connecticut, according to News Times. The recent high school graduate was going to watch fireworks with former classmate Benjamin Arne, 17, who was also struck by the car. Arne was transported to Danbury Hospital in serious, but stable condition, News Times reported.
After Townsends death, her sisters and cousins were sitting in her room sharing stories about her when they discovered a bucket list she had written as a sophomore for a class assignment, according to BuzzFeed News. The bucket list included three wishes: to fly to Spain, to kiss in the rain and to save a life.
Townsends sister, Victoria Townsend, told BuzzFeed News that over the years, Rebecca completed the first two items on her list when she traveled to Spain with her family and kissed her boyfriend in the rain.
After Arne was released from the hospital, he visited the Townsend family and told them Townsend had pushed him away from the car and saved his life. The family realized Townsend had completed her bucket list.
He said, The last thing I remember is Rebecca pushing me and telling me to hurry up, Victoria told BuzzFeed News. It was a little sign that she was OK.
Townsend had been accepted to the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, and had planned to attend the school in the fall, according to New York Daily News.
The Townsend family launched the Facebook Page Remembering Rebecca as part of a social media campaign to honor her and to encourage others to be kind and pay it forward.
Rebecca was passionate about service work and charities, constantly working to better the lives of others, the Remembering Rebecca Facebook Page said. For this reason, we have made this page where people can share a memory or document ways they have kept Rebecca's spirit alive by showing kindness to others. Whether paying for a meal, volunteering time, or donating to a cause, we all have the opportunity to pay it forward every day, just as Rebecca strived to do.
The story and #RememberingRebecca campaign has since gone viral with thousands liking the page.
