WHITE CO.—A fundraiser is set to be held in the memory of Jessica Evans, the 17-year-old who was killed in late August 2012 during a camping trip.
Evans’ benefactor is a man who has held other fundraisers in memory of childrens’ rights, Richard Propes.
Propes explains how the whole thing came about on this page, which is where you can click to donate any amount you can afford; the itinerary of the fundraiser is listed at the bottom after the quote from the site:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Since 1989, I’ve traveled nearly 4,000 miles by wheelchair raising awareness and funds on behalf of organizations working to end child abuse and domestic violence.
Word arrived while I was wheeling that 17-year-old Jessica Evans, a Facebook friend and daughter of a friend and Tenderness Tour volunteer, had been murdered along with her boyfriend while out camping. The suspect, Danny Coston, is currently on trial in the killings in White County, Illinois.
While it destroys me every time I hear of a murdered youth, I must confess that Jessi’s killing has hit me harder than most – partly because I know her mother, partly because she and I were FB friends and I found her an absolutely delightful young woman, and partly because it did happen while I was actually on a Tenderness Tour.
With her mother’s blessing, I am offering the Jessica Evans Legacy Tenderness Tour in an effort to fund the Jessica Evans Memorial Scholarship Fund for a 10-year period. The award was first given this past year by her mother in honor of a graduating senior from Jessi’s high school whose attitude and actions exemplified a devotion to humanity and a celebration of the human spirit.
I cannot bring Jessi back…Lord knows I would do anything to be able to do so. What I can do is symbolically bring her home by wheeling from Carmi, Illinois, the small town in which she was killed, to her home town of Norris City, IL.
I will be raising funds for the Jessica Evans Memorial Scholarship Fund and 100% of the funds raised will go directly into the fund that will award a $500 scholarship each year for the next 10 years.
During my visit, I hope to also do outreach and possibly visit churches or non-profit organizations. The itinerary is pending. Volunteers are welcome.
For more information on the history of the Tenderness Tour, visit the Tenderness Tour website
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TENTATIVE ITINERARY
8/30/13 – Arrive in Norris City in the evening. Dinner with volunteers and/or speaking.
8/31/13 – Tenderness Tour From Carmi to Norris City during the day followed by evening engagement to be determined.
9/1/13 – Visit local church.
Return home either late 9/1 or early 9/2 depending upon opportunities for outreach.
As you all may know, Danny Coston‘s trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday, August 20. This is going to be a highly emotional time for the families of Evans and Jake Wheeler, who was also killed that weekend in August a year ago. If you can support this effort in any way, please do so; Jessica’s mom has been low-key during this past year, and this kind of support is just the thing she, as well as the other family members in this case, needs right now and throughout the trial.