Jun 3, 2009 10:12 pm US/Mountain
Friends, Family Play It Forward In Memory Of Teen
Written by Suzanne McCarroll
SILT, Colo (CBS4) ―
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Emily Johnson died in an ATV accident last November.
CBS
The small town of Silt has a big heart, but not nearly as big as that of the teenager that residents are honoring.
"She was loving. She was a motivator. She was such an individual," her mother, Sheryl Johnson, told CBS4.
Emily Johnson, 16, died in an ATV accident this past winter. At that time, her family issued a challenge to residents to pay it forward in honor of Emily. And indeed, residents took that challenge to heart.
Emily was an avid soccer player and worried about the lack of sports for children in Third World countries. Some of her teammates have sent brand new soccer balls to villages across the world in Emily's honor. Her best friend, Audrey Asplund, bought new balls for children in Peru.
"The only ball they had was flat. We bought them new ones and they couldn't believe it. That's something she (Emily) would do," Asplund said.
This spring her friends at Coal Ridge High School put their hearts into their soccer season and won their league championship.
"That's one last thing I promised her when I said 'Bye' to her in the hospital. I told her that every time I played soccer I was going to play it for her and I think that's what makes me so good," Asplund added.
Now Asplund, Emily's mother, and Emily's soccer coach are organizing the first Emily Johnson Soccer Tournament. The money raised will provide college scholarship money to two of Emily's classmates. It's what Emily would want.
"She loved her team, she loved being part of what team is all about. I knew soccer was a way we could honor her." said Sheryl.
The
Play It Forward Soccer Tournament will take place June 6-7 at Gates Soccer Park in Glenwood Springs.
After her family and friends finished sharing Emily's story with CBS4 News a brilliant rainbow draped over the soccer field. Emily, they say, was always quick to say thanks.
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