Display at a Lynchburg high school encourages kids not to smoke

By Aimee Norton

Published: April 2, 2008

1,200 pairs of shoes sat on the lawn of E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg.  That’s the number of people an anti-smoking group says die from smoking every day. It’s a reminder to teenagers about just how dangerous it can be.

“Hopefully it will impact them enough to see how many people have died and to know that it’s smarter not to smoke,” said Helen Osinga, a student at E.C. Glass.

For her, the message is very personal

“My grandfather died from smoking as well and so it leaves the impact that if we can kill this we can help save lives. It kills me to see all the shoes that are out here, but I understand the pain the people have gone through,” said Osinga.

The shoes were in all shapes and sizes; even children’s shoes. That’s a reminder that second hand smoke can also be deadly.

“We thought what a way to grab people’s attention. Twelve hundred doesn’t really mean anything unless you see the 12 hundred pairs of shoes,” said Cheryl Burnette, a Tobacco Prevention Specialist for Centra Health.

The goal it to convince teenagers never to pick up a cigarette. Burnette teaches classes around the Lynchburg area to help people quit.

“When you’re 60 and 70 years old and you start to see what has happened to your health, it’s too late so the best way to do this is prevention, prevention, prevention

“It’s just really not worth it to start smoking, it’s not worth it to start, it’s not worth it to continue because this many people die every day from tobacco use,” said Caitlin Shoemaker, a student at E.C. Glass.

The shoes were later donated to Goodwill and The Salvation Army.