Ellen Bryan became an advocate for lightning safety after her sister, Christina, was struck by lightning in 2000. Christina's injuries from the lightning strike were very severe - leaving her without the ability to move or speak. Ellen is telling Christina's story for her, and educating people about the dangers of lightning.

Last year, Ellen and NOAA's National Weather Service partnered for the 2009 - 2011 Lightning Safety Week Campaign. As a member of the Lightning Safety and Awareness Team (LSA), joins meteorologists, doctors and lightning specific companies from around the country in promoting lightning awareness. In 2010, the LSA Team promoted a public service announcement featuring Ellen and Christina (video below) that reached more than 3 million people worldwide.

Your Hometown Lima Stations ran a weather special during May of 2011. They included a story about Christina and the dangers of lightning. This is the second time WLIO has run a story on Christina and they continue to show the PSA on their stations. This video was produced by Ellen.

Christina had just finished her junior year of high school. Ranked Top 5 in her class, she excelled in academics, choir and golfing. She was elected President of National Honor Society and the Secretary of Student Council, and she was visiting colleges in hopes of pursuing a career in chemical engineering.

All of Christina's plans for her future came to a halt on June 13, 2000.

While working at the Fox's Den Golf Course in Celina, Christina waited out a storm inside the clubhouse. A few minutes after the storm had passed through Celina, Christina went outside to pick up the golf bag stands on the driving range. This was her last job to do for the day. But when Christina was bending over to pick up one of the stands, a bolt of lightning struck Christina and was so powerful that it left a 3 foot deep hole next to where she stood.

It's been 11 years since Christina was struck by lightning. Jeff Booth and crew from FOX 45 in Dayton, Ohio came to Celina to tell Christina's story. This video (below) aired in May 2010 and shows the struggles and successes Christina has been through since 2000.

This public service announcement was created by NOAA and released during Lightning Safety Week 2009. It was also used for Lightning Safety Week 2010, which was June 20 - 26. The PSA was picked up by THIS TV national network and was aired on 55 stations across the country in July 2010.

To download the PSA visit NOAA's Lightning Website.

USA Today - June 15, 2009
Sister inspires beauty contestant as she advocates lightning safety

News Story - WTHR Indianapolis
Web story and video on Christina's story

NOAA Lightning Safety Website
Download PSA, Read Ellen's Personal Essay on Lightning Safety

Ball State University Website
Media release about Ellen's work for lightning safety

China Meteorological Administration
Article in Chinese about PSA and 2009 lightning safety campaign

Google Results for Ellen Bryan
NOAA publications, meeting agendas and other miscellaneous publications

Ellen travels across the country promoting lightning safety. She has talked with over 3,000 students, 100 businesses and many service organizations, such as the Rotary, Kiwanis Club, and Boy Scouts of America, about what to do in a thunderstorm. Ellen has been to Washington D.C., Chicago, Maryland, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio and Indiana to promote lightning safety.

The Lightning Safety and Awareness Fund was created by Ellen last year. She has raised nearly $5,000 for lightning safety and is the youngest creator of a fund at the Mercer County Civic Foundation. If you would like to make a donation to Ellen's fund, see below.

Lightning Safety Week took place June 20 - 26. Ellen spent the week in Florida, Indiana and Ohio to promote lightning awareness. She did interviews with the media and promoted the public service announcement.

If you would like to make a tax deductible contribution to Ellen's fund, please write a check to:

Mercer County Civic Foundation
Memo Line: Lightning Safety and Awareness Fund

Checks can be mailed to:

The Mercer County Civic Foundation
119 West Fulton P.O. Box 439
Celina, Ohio 45822

All proceeds go towards education materials for and victims of lightning safety.

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About the Mercer County Civic Foundation
Based in Celina, Ohio, the Mercer County Civic Foundation has worked for many years to establish permanently endowed funds for the benefit of their local communities. As a 501c3 organization, they collect public money for all types of projects and programs. The Civic Foundation also makes grants to qualifying local organizations that work to meet the needs of community residents.

In November 2010, Ellen presented at the Brain Injury Association of Ohio's convention in Columbus. She told Christina's story of living with a brain injury after being struck by lightning. Here is a portion of Ellen's presentation.

For statistics, safety information, toolkits and other information about lightning safety, visit NOAA's Lightning Safety Website.

Hundreds of people are permanently injured by lightning every year. Twenty-nine people died from a lightning strike in 2010. To learn more about those that have been injured, click here.