A bright, warm and sunny day welcomed over a hundred people who decided to come out and walk for a cause.
Hosted by Alpha Gamma Delta, Miles for Melissa had students come out to donate and pledge to not drink and drive in the memory of one of Longwood’s own, Melissa Haislip.
To start the walk off, students gathered near the steps of the Student Union to hear Katie Stewart, a sister of Alpha Gamma Delta, and Vanessa Haislip, Melissa’s mother, tell the story of her daughter.
Haislip, a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, was a part of Longwood’s inaugural nursing class. On June18, 2014, on her way home from work at Mercy Hospital, Haislip was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver. The driver’s blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. He also had cocaine and marijuana in his system. Haislip was only 23.
Friends and family remember Haislip as kind, fun loving and having a passion for helping people. According to Stewart, a sophomore and a member of Alpha Gamma Delta’s fundraiser committee, Haislip’s death has greatly impacted not only her family, but also the Longwood community. “It’s (Melissa’s death) impacted our chapter; it’s impacted the nursing program and it’s definitely impacted her friends and family and so we wanted to put on an event to really give back and show the love and support we have for her. So we created Miles for Melissa, just a quick walk around campus, just to raise money for her scholarship fund, which (will be) given to a nursing student every single year.”
Though Stewart didn’t know her personally, she saw Haislip as a model of inspiration. “She was one of those people who lived her life everyday to the fullest…She was crazy and fun loving, but she really did have such a kind, passionate heart and to see someone so wonderful like that, go so soon has really encouraged me to be as kind as possible everyday, to live everyday to the fullest, because we really aren’t guaranteed another day.”
When asked what she hoped the outcome of event would be, Stewart answered, “I hope it raises awareness for people to not drink and drive. Call a friend, walk home, crawl home like Mrs. Haislip said, but just really stressing the importance of how dangerous it is to drink and drive.”
The event raised $600 dollars, all of which will go to a scholarship fund for a senior nursing student all in Haislip’s name. According to Vanessa Haislip, the scholarship helps keep Melissa’s dream alive. “Melissa wanted to do so many things with her teaching degree,” Haislip states, “She was very proud of being in the inaugural nursing class at Longwood. We hope this scholarship will help another nursing student achieve their dream.”
Stewart hopes to make Miles for Melissa an annual event, as well as grow in popularity on-campus. Vanessa Haislip felt blessed to see so much support come to the campus. “Melissa’s sorority sisters have taken us in as their family. As Melissa’s parents, we are so afraid that people will forget her, but the Longwood community still continues to show support for us and Melissa. I know they will not forget her.”
