The day after Christmas in 2007 may well have been the worst day ever in the lives of Kayla Jones’ family.

The Fort Dodge 15-year-old died that day in a car crash south of the city. The daughter of Heather and Mark Farrell and Todd and Becky Jones was a sophomore at Fort Dodge Senior High School.

Following her death, an innovative effort by the Farrells helped some of Jones’ classmates, and other local high school graduates, complete their education with scholarships awarded in her honor and memory.

Over the years, 414 scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000 were awarded.

All of that money was generated by the Kayla Jones Memorial Ride, an annual event in which motorcyclists came together to cruise through the area and raise money.

The concept of the ride was suggested by family friends Justin and Beth Spencer. Although they had no particular experience organizing such a thing, the Farrells went for it. Heather Farrell later told The Messenger that “we just kind of flew by the seat of our pants” but the initial ride was successful, generating $10,000. That enabled the Farrells to award 20 scholarships.

For the next 11 years, the event grew both in terms of finances and ridership.

During the August 2021 ride, motorcyclists from across the state raised $70,000 for the scholarship fund.

That ride will go down in history as the last one, the Farrells announced recently.

And while the rides will be no more, the family of Kayla Jones has done something special to honor and remember her. There are people throughout the Fort Dodge area, and perhaps throughout Iowa, who were able to pursue their education goals because that Memorial Ride existed.

The family did something remarkable by turning its personal tragedy into something that helped 414 young people, many of whom they probably did not know, get more education and pursue careers. The scholarships awarded in the wake of one young life ending far too soon have impacted hundreds of lives for years to come.

We join those 414 scholarship recipients in saying thank you to Heather and Mark Farrell.