An event that has grown into a legacy for a North County teenager who was abducted and murdered three years ago now has a new partnership in the Girl Scouts of San Diego.
Poway teenager Chelsea King was a Girl Scout and her mother, Kelly, was her troop leader.
That was long before the 17-year-old blossomed into the teenager who would grow to love music and cross-country running and dream about college.
On February 25, 2010, Chelsea went on a training run after school on the trails at Lake Hodges not far from her home. Five days later her body was found, the victim of a gruesome murder that grabbed the attention of residents all over San Diego County and the nation.
Her family, Brent and Kelly King and their son Tyler, have turned their focus on legislation to protect other children by advocating for Chelsea’s Law. When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the bill into law in February 2011, the law, in part, enacted a one-strike, life without parole sentencing option for the most dangerous sexual offenders.
The Chelsea’s Light Foundation is working to create similar laws in every state in the nation funded in part by an annual 5K run held in honor of the slain teenager.
The 4th Annual Finish Chelsea's Run 5K will be held March 1, 2014. Money raised by the run is also used for scholarships.
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“This past year we awarded out over $75,000 to San Diego kids to go to college,” said Brent King.
Now, the Kings hope to expand the event with the help of the Girl Scouts of San Diego.
“With our relationship, we’re able to hopefully take this to the next level and protect even more kids,” Brent King said.
“Very early on, Girl Scouts is where Chelsea found her voice,” Kelly King told NBC 7 Monday. “It’s such a perfect way to bring together two organizations that are all about helping kids find their voice and seeing how they can make this world a better place.”
To register and for more information go to the foundation’s website.
Early registration is through Sept. 22. Participants will receive $10 off adult registrations and a special commemorative bandana for children.
