Fund-raiser memorializes victim of drunken driving

Sunday was a day of mixed emotions for James Bland.

The Lawrence man was thrilled to see more than 200 people show for the third year of a scholarship fund-raiser in the memory of his wife, Felicia “Lisa” Bland. But it brought back sad memories of Sept. 16, 2000, the day Lisa Bland, 39, was killed on Kansas Highway 10 when her car was struck by a teenager who was driving while intoxicated.

“She was always like the ringleader in getting people to do something and bringing people together,” James Bland said.

That is why James Bland and other family members and friends decided to organize events to fund scholarships in Lisa’s memory.

At noon Sunday about 50 people gathered at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1229 Vt. They then walked several blocks in the downtown area before returning to the church basement for a barbecue dinner where they were joined by others in the community. Donations of $8 for adults and $4 for children were collected.

More than $6,000 was collected in last year’s event and was used to fund two scholarships for youths wanting to pay for education beyond high school, James Bland said. A panel of judges goes over the candidates’ qualifications without knowing names of the candidates, he said.

“Last year we had two people who were really close, and I decided to go ahead and give two scholarships,” James Bland said.

It was unclear Sunday afternoon exactly how much this year’s event raised.

Lisa Bland’s mother, Maria “Mickey” Ramos, was happy with the interest shown by the community.

Walkers take part in the Lisa Ramos Bland Memorial Scholarship fund-raiser. Sunday afternoon's walk began at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1229 Vt. A barbecue dinner, attended by about 200 people, was at the church after the walk.

“So many people came, and I want to thank them,” Ramos said. “This was a good day for it. The sun is shining. I think she (Lisa) is here with us.”

Bland and Ramos also hope the event draws attention to the problem of drinking and driving.

“This is something that should not happen, and there is so much of it,” Ramos said. “It has got to end.”

Billie Cummings, a close friend of the Bland and Ramos families, attended the dinner after returning from a tour of duty with the Army in Iraq.

“K-10 is such a dangerous place, and I think somebody needs to do something about it,” she said.

Her husband, Heath Cummings, agreed.

“I think they should put barriers in the median strip,” Heath Cummings said.

Nearly a year after the accident that killed Lisa Bland, Sean Scott, then 16, of Shawnee, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. He was placed on five years’ probation.