Chris’s memory lives on in safety campaign

CAMPAIGNERS led by (front, from left) Chantel Birtwistle, Becca Dale and Charlotte Kilroy.

A GROUP of teens determined to bring about change following the tragic death of a 15-year-old schoolboy have been nominated for a Pride In Oldham award.

Becca Dale’s brother Chris was killed by a young driver while crossing a road in Lees in 2009.

Members of the Oldham Youth Council, lead by Becca, Chantel Birtwistle and Charlotte Kilroy, quickly sprung into action forming the Every Life Matters campaign in his memory. Their aim was to flag up the dangers of careless driving and their stellar efforts to make a difference have now earned the whole campaign team an award nomination.

Becca (19) said: “It’s such an honour — we really just wanted to make a difference in the way people drive but to get nominated for this and recognised for what we have done is really nice.

“Hopefully this will make people realise that people can make a change if they feel passionately enough about something.”

With ambitions high, the team set about the campaign and successfully had an influence on speed cameras being introduced in Lees Road, near the site of the collision that killed Chris.

They then went on to commission hard-hitting play “The Split Second”.

The triumphant production left audiences stunned as it visited sixth forms across the borough and even secured funding for performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from August 22.

The group gave up countless hours between them to spread the word about safer driving and organised an awareness week to encourage drivers to support black bands on their car aerials.

Becca added: “The public have really got behind us and donated to our funds.

“We’re currently saving up to send the Split Second into sixth forms every two years.

“We never thought it would grow to what it has become, it’s really overwhelming.”