In spring 2009, senior Wendy Alderman got into an accident while driving her scooter.
Alderman was not wearing a helmet, but she walked away with only minor scratches and bruises.
In another episode, Ashley Groves, a UF graduate, also got into an accident in November 2007 while driving a scooter without a helmet, slipped into a coma and missed a semester of school. She still feels the effects of the accident today.
After these accidents, Alderman and Taryn Rivera Buckley, students in the College of Health and Human Performance, began a campaign last year to promote helmet safety on scooters, bicycles and motorcycles.
The campaign, “Gators Do It with Helmets On,” received a $5,000 grant from the UF Pepsi Refresh Project, which was announced at the men’s basketball game last Saturday.
“Not many other schools have the amount of scooters we do,” Alderman said. “It’s good to have people worry about their safety and wear helmets.”
In the fall, Pepsi donated $20,000 to UF to support student projects and organizations. Groups across campus were urged to apply for a $5,000 grant and explain how the money would be used. Five finalists were chosen and the winner was announced during last Saturday’s men’s basketball game.
“I am beyond happy because we had to be continuously reminding everyone to vote,” Alderman said. “It’s great for everyone involved.”
Alderman and Buckley are president and treasurer, respectively, of Eta Sigma Gamma, the health education honorary society involved with the campaign.
The organization will partner with Student Government and the university to inform students about the dangers of riding or driving motor scooters, bicycles and motorcycles without a helmet.
“We will have incentives for those who use helmets,” Alderman said. “We will have coupons for those who don’t so they can purchase helmets at a lower cost.”
