Chelsea's Light Shines Strong

Thousands want to help remember 17-year-old

If you're looking for proof that the worst can sometimes bring out the best, just visit the Chelsea's Light page on Facebook.

The page has only been up a few days and already has more than 18,000 fans.

You'll find a growing list of suggestions people have for remembering 17-year-old Chelsea King.  Some of those suggestions include scholarships, charity races, and volunteer foot patrols at the park where Chelsea went missing.

"It's just very uplifting. It's very encouraging. It's very inspirational," said Poway High School peer counselor Traci Barker-Ball.
She said the outpouring of support this week has been incredible.

Friday, Poway students wore yellow in memory of Chelsea. Barker-Ball said a lot of kids are trying to do something good to help them deal with their grief, even if it's something small.

"So, they're going around the County this weekend taking down any missing poster of Chelsea and recycling," she said. "Because that's what she [Chelsea] would want."

The Poway girl’s basketball team will play for the CIF championship Saturday and dedicate the game to Chelsea. The boys wrestling team will also compete in her honor.

The school's band, however, will not compete. Chelsea was a member of the band, and a spokesperson for the school said the band decided it would just be too difficult.

Friday a family spokesperson told NBC San Diego that it's still too early for the family to think about a permanent way to memorialize Chelsea, but they are very grateful for the outpouring.

Traci Barker-Ball said if anything positive can be seen this week, it's how this terrible incident has brought the community closer.
"Kids are talking to their parents more. Parents are telling their kids more, 'I love you. I need you near me.' There are definitely some positives," she said. "And Chelsea would like that part."

Chelsea's memorial is scheduled for March 13 at 2 p.m. at Poway High school.

The family has received so many requests of people wanting to donate that they have established the Chelsea 's Light Fund. Donations to the Chelsea 's Light Fund will be accepted at every Wells Fargo Bank across the United States (account #1838355913).

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