About 100 people attended a Family Fun Day at Woody's Golf Range in Herndon on Saturday, Sept. 19. The event was a fundraiser in honor of the three 2014 Herndon High grads and marching band members who died in a car accident in Greenville, Texas, northeast of Dallas, on their way to a video-game festival in Austin on Aug. 7.
The three teens that were killed were Holly Novak, 18, Kyle Mathers, 19, and Dale Neibaur, 19. The crash was caused by a 78-year-old man driving in the wrong direction; they were also hit from behind by a tractor-trailer. Two other teens in the SUV were injured, hospitalized and survived the crash; they were Kevin DiCicco, 19, and Hannah Galbraith, 18.
For a $25 donation that went toward a memorial scholarship for the Herndon High Band, the Family Fun Day included a driving range, mini-golf, a token for the batting cages, canvas painting with Pinot's Palette, hula-hooping, barbecue with hamburgers and hot dogs.
"It was to treasure their memory in a happy day with families," said organizer Jackie Johnson who runs JJ Deli in Herndon with her husband Jeff. "The money raised will go to a memorial scholarship fund for the Herndon High School Band."
She added, "When you're going through a tragedy, this community is very supportive. There's nothing better than a beautiful day with lots of fun activities."
In attendance was Julie Delorme, the mother of Dale, the trombone player who was killed in the accident. The former Herndon resident called the event "fantastic."
"It just goes to show that there's a lot of good people out there who really care," Delorme said. "You always hear about the negative and never the good; this goes to show that there's a lot of good things happening."
Pat Nugent's heating and plumbing company, named John Nugent and Sons of McLean and Sterling, supplied the bracelets and water bottles. "Our company had to step forward and do something even if it meant bracelets and water bottles," he said. "I don't think there's anything sadder than losing a child."