“Go to Spain, kiss in the rain, save a life.”
Those were three lifetime goals written down by high school student Rebecca Townsend for a project in her sophomore year. Two years later, she had completed them — but she sacrificed her own life to achieve the last one.
Rebecca had already been to Spain by age 17, and had a boyfriend named Niko, with whom she shared kisses in the rain.
She also graduated from high school and was accepted to the University of Notre Dame.
After watching fireworks one night in her hometown, Rebecca and her friend Benjamin were walking home when a car came flying toward them. Rebecca pushed Benjamin out of the way, but in doing so, was struck and killed.
Benjamin sustained serious injuries, but is now in stable condition. In a tragic turn, Rebecca had fulfilled the last item on her list. Her parents later found that list on Rebecca’s bed, and they believe she’d been looking at it on the night she died.
It’s a shocking story, but Rebecca’s family and friends say that she was known for her charitable work.
(via Daily Mail)
Rebecca’s friends and family created a Facebook page to celebrate her life, and ask people to remember this brave young woman by following in her footsteps and doing good deeds every day. So far, these deeds have begun pouring in with the hashtag #RememberingRebecca, and range from paying for people’s drive-thru meals to donating bone marrow.
Rebecca’s family is taking comfort in the fact that she accomplished her goals. “Who knows why Rebecca was looking at that letter the night she left us,” said her older sister Monica. “But I think it’s her little way of telling us she’s okay. She accomplished what she needed to. She made it.”
