Islander seeks funds to light up kids and teens on the island’s dark roads

Published 7:00 am Wednesday, October 15, 2014

To help island children be more visible during the dark days of winter, an islander is raising funds to purchase lights and make them available to all island children and teens who need one.

Wendy Wharton, a retired registered nurse, is leading the effort, hoping to make adults and children alike more aware of just how hard it can be to spot people walking on the side of the road in the dark.

“I just want to bring this out in the open,” she said. “This is a problem.”

Wharton hopes to raise $1,000 for the cause, she said, and has money promised from Thrivent Financial and Puget Sound Energy. She also plans to apply for a King County grant to provide financial support for the program on a longer-term basis and is hosting a fundraising bake sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday outside Thriftway.

“I am feeling pressure because of the growing darkness,” she said.

Wharton is working with Lane MacLeod at Spider’s Ski and Sports to order quality lights at a reasonable price and possibly reflective gear as well.

The lights, MacLeod said, are red flashing LED lights that are visible up to about a mile away.  They can attach to a bike or can be worn around a leg or an arm, he added, and have a couple hundred hours of run time before their batteries need to be replaced.

MacLeod, like Wharton, said he sees both adults and children on the island’s dark roads without lights or reflective clothing.

Wharton said she does not know yet how she will distribute the lights, but plans to work that out soon, perhaps enlisting the schools or other island organizations.

Donations and offers of assistance can be sent to Wendy Wharton at 29757 128th Ave. SW, Vashon. She can also be reached at 463-4040.

— Susan Riemer