Lauren VanReese Memorial
Donation protected
As many people have heard Lauren VanReese passed away Tuesday, March 6th after the van her and her family along with friends were riding in was hit by a drunk driver.
The group was on vacation in Florida for spring break and had just spent the day at the Twins training opener game and were on there way back when the accident occurred.
There were 15 people in the van at the time, ages from 4-69 years old. Many family members were severely injured and were airlifted to nearby hospitals. Other members had minor injuries and were treated at the hospital as well. Unfortunately, for Lauren, her life came to the end when she was ejected from the van when the collision happened and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lauren was an extraordinary woman in so many ways. She had an attitude that was so positive and rememberable anybody who knows her can relate. She had this smile and laugh that nobody else had whenever you would see her the grin she would put on her face stretched far and wide. She had this laugh that penetrated you and often times made you start laughing as well if you weren't already. Lauren was a caring and loving individual, she always wanted to help others before helping herself, she would also go out of her way to do things for you without hesitation. She touched the hearts of so many people.
Lauren loved the MN Wild a lot, she was a die-hard fan and really never missed a game. She also loved the casino, bingo, and pull tabs. The excitement she got on her face when she did these things made you realize how much this girl loved to gamble! And there are many times it paid off well for her! She also loved mountain dew and I swear would always have one with her if not she would somehow get ahold of one.
Lauren was very close to her family, and would always talk about her aunts, uncles, and cousins whenever she got the opportunity. The whole family was closer than any family I've seen and all spent lots of time together, as you can see they all were down in Florida vacationing together.
She also was very close to many friends and would always be hanging out with somebody, there were very few times she wasn't with one of her friends. She had an impact on a lot of peoples lives and was well known in the Blaine community and the death of her has already brought awareness to many about drunk driving.
The death of Lauren has touched many many people, and many still can't believe its even real. Even if people didn't know her well they are still impacted by it because they realize how much she meant to people they know.
Her goal in life was to be a nurse, she had been attending Mankato State for nursing. This dream she had will no longer be able to happen but I know for a fact that she would have made one hell of a good nurse because of her personality, and caring soul she had.
Lauren also played softball for over 10 years and played in the Blaine and Ham Lake community. She also spent much of her life going to her brother's baseball games and spent many weekends at the baseball fields cheering him and other friends on. Her cousins are also all very involved in baseball, and as an entire family enjoyed baseball a ton; as this is ironic on how the whole family was coming back from a Twins game in Florida. This was the last thing she got to see and clearly shows her and her families love for the sport.
This go fund me is being set up to honor Lauren with a baseball and softball field memorial within the community. This memorial would not only honor her and her family but all friends and people who knew her.
I want it to raise awareness for families that are victims of drunk drivers and the effects it has on all loved ones. I want this field to be a lesson for all young kids that will play at it to realize the importance to never drink and drive, this can be a learning lesson to young kids now so they never have to go through such a tragic event like this. Please donate if you are able or share with friends.
Nobody should ever have to die this young, and no family should have to go through what this family did because of one person's own stupidity. To anybody affected by a similar tragic event, I am deeply sorry and I hope we can raise awareness together about drunk drivers and its effects it causes to whole communities and families.
The group was on vacation in Florida for spring break and had just spent the day at the Twins training opener game and were on there way back when the accident occurred.
There were 15 people in the van at the time, ages from 4-69 years old. Many family members were severely injured and were airlifted to nearby hospitals. Other members had minor injuries and were treated at the hospital as well. Unfortunately, for Lauren, her life came to the end when she was ejected from the van when the collision happened and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lauren was an extraordinary woman in so many ways. She had an attitude that was so positive and rememberable anybody who knows her can relate. She had this smile and laugh that nobody else had whenever you would see her the grin she would put on her face stretched far and wide. She had this laugh that penetrated you and often times made you start laughing as well if you weren't already. Lauren was a caring and loving individual, she always wanted to help others before helping herself, she would also go out of her way to do things for you without hesitation. She touched the hearts of so many people.
Lauren loved the MN Wild a lot, she was a die-hard fan and really never missed a game. She also loved the casino, bingo, and pull tabs. The excitement she got on her face when she did these things made you realize how much this girl loved to gamble! And there are many times it paid off well for her! She also loved mountain dew and I swear would always have one with her if not she would somehow get ahold of one.
Lauren was very close to her family, and would always talk about her aunts, uncles, and cousins whenever she got the opportunity. The whole family was closer than any family I've seen and all spent lots of time together, as you can see they all were down in Florida vacationing together.
She also was very close to many friends and would always be hanging out with somebody, there were very few times she wasn't with one of her friends. She had an impact on a lot of peoples lives and was well known in the Blaine community and the death of her has already brought awareness to many about drunk driving.
The death of Lauren has touched many many people, and many still can't believe its even real. Even if people didn't know her well they are still impacted by it because they realize how much she meant to people they know.
Her goal in life was to be a nurse, she had been attending Mankato State for nursing. This dream she had will no longer be able to happen but I know for a fact that she would have made one hell of a good nurse because of her personality, and caring soul she had.
Lauren also played softball for over 10 years and played in the Blaine and Ham Lake community. She also spent much of her life going to her brother's baseball games and spent many weekends at the baseball fields cheering him and other friends on. Her cousins are also all very involved in baseball, and as an entire family enjoyed baseball a ton; as this is ironic on how the whole family was coming back from a Twins game in Florida. This was the last thing she got to see and clearly shows her and her families love for the sport.
This go fund me is being set up to honor Lauren with a baseball and softball field memorial within the community. This memorial would not only honor her and her family but all friends and people who knew her.
I want it to raise awareness for families that are victims of drunk drivers and the effects it has on all loved ones. I want this field to be a lesson for all young kids that will play at it to realize the importance to never drink and drive, this can be a learning lesson to young kids now so they never have to go through such a tragic event like this. Please donate if you are able or share with friends.
Nobody should ever have to die this young, and no family should have to go through what this family did because of one person's own stupidity. To anybody affected by a similar tragic event, I am deeply sorry and I hope we can raise awareness together about drunk drivers and its effects it causes to whole communities and families.
Organizer
Alec Zimmer
Organizer
Andover, MN
