In honor of her 22nd birthday, Serena Rio asked her friends and family to give money to the Safe Streets Fund to celebrate “the birthday I almost didn’t have, and the first Year Anniversary of that crappy day.”   We’ll let her tell her story in her own words.

Serena Rio: “I was badly mauled by a car February 4th, 2011. I was promptly chauffeured off to the hospital for 2 months, complete with broken bones, punctured lung, missing teeth, and a wheelchair sentence of 3 months.  I was riding in the bike lane, the right way, at 2:00 PM in the afternoon. The vehicle in question ran me over from behind. He fled the scene and was never caught.

For my birthday, the only thing I am asking of friends and family is to help make New York streets safer by donating to the Safe Streets Fund”

Serena’s family and friends have contributed over 2,500 dollars and counting.  This is enough to sponsor a free helmet fitting in a neighborhood where people don’t have easy access to helmets; Or enough to host a Bike Bonanza in collaboration with Bike New York and Recycle a Bicycle;  Or create materials for delivery cyclists in Spanish and Chinese –  the possibilities are endless.

Consider joining Serena’s initiative and give a donation.  As Serena says “Let’s try and prevent a repeat for everyone on the streets! New York isn’t going to fix itself!”