Pembroke resident Erin Brenton said she believes everyone has a story. Her story took a tragic turn 30 years ago when she and her six-year-old sister, Heather Woods, were hit by a 17-year-old drunk driver while walking down the street, killing Heather and causing Brenton severe head and leg trauma.

Brenton has lingering health problems from the crash, but remains determined to keep Heather’s story alive by educating people about the dangers of drunk driving and making it possible for people to have opportunities that Heather did not.

Whitman-Hanson junior Craig Boure and his family are grateful.

Brenton recently formed the non-profit organization Heather’s Way to help individuals and families afford the cost of extracurricular activities, and Boure was the recipient of their first award during a presentation on Jan. 28 during halftime of the girls basketball game.

Heather’s Way helped pay for Boure to attend the annual trip to Florida for the Whitman-Hanson boys basketball team in December, but also presented him with an award and a pair of custom-ordered Reebok sneakers, which caught Boure by surprise.

“Our coach just said to make sure we all came to the girls game because someone would be getting an award and we thought it was going to be the captain,” Boure said. “I was just shocked. That was the first time I’d met them, and I’m just so grateful for all the things they’ve done.”

“The look on his face was priceless,” said Kathy Teed, Boure’s grandmother. “We kept him pretty well in the dark. His coach helped a lot. He’s got a really great coach, he does an awesome job with the kids.”

Teed stumbled upon Heather’s Way while she was looking for offseason coaching for Boure at the Kingston Sports Center. She said it has been difficult for her and Boure’s mother, Gail Teed, to keep up with the high cost of high school athletic fees coupled with the fact that, at 6’4” with size 16 shoes, some of Boure’s equipment can be hard to come by.

“As he gets older and bigger, we’re having a tough time,” Teed said. “To be honest we just couldn’t afford [the trip to Florida], and we’re so grateful to them for helping him.”

When she found out about Heather’s Way, she immediately got in touch with Brenton and filled out the application for Boure and then he wrote an essay about the effects of alcohol.

“Wrote a great essay about how alcohol has affected his life,” Brenton said. “Heather’s Way is another way for saying, make responsible decisions, and Craig shows that. He’s just a great kid.”

Brenton founded Heather’s Way after starting a walking and running group called Girls On The Go, which helps organize runners for charity running events and walk-a-thons. While Girls On The Go does strictly charity events, it is a for-profit group, and Brenton said she also wanted to create a nonprofit in memory of her sister to help families afford everything from swim lessons to high school clubs and sports.

“She wasn’t able to do these things,” Brenton said. “I don’t think any kid shouldn’t be able to do these types of things just because their parents can’t afford it.”

Brenton and Heather’s Way had just planned to help Boure and his family with the cost of the basketball program, but members Paul and Kim Froio, who both work at Reebok decided to put in the order for the custom pair of basketball sneakers as well.

“It’s an amazing group,” Brenton said.

The Reeboks were also a surprise to Gail Teed, who said it was tough not to get emotional during the presentation.

“I had my tissues in hand,” she said. “I’m not the type of person who asks for things, and she’s such a wonderful woman to do stuff like this in memory of her sister.”

A mission

But Brenton said Heather’s Way is more than about handing out checks. She also said the group, as well as Girls On The Go, have campaigned against the re-institution of happy hours in Massachusetts, and she wants to emphasize the dangers of driving while distracted or incapacitated by making people aware of her family’s story.

“It just doesn’t end,” she said. “I think if people took the time to think about their actions, this wouldn’t happen. And it’s not just drinking and driving, it’s talking on the phone, texting and just not paying attention. And you can’t just say you’re sorry and that you didn’t mean to do it.”

Brenton added that she hopes Boure and his family are the first of many that Heather’s Way is able to assist, and while she said the group is open to any and all people in need, helping people on the South Shore makes her especially happy.

“This is where I’m from and I want to support people on the South Shore,” she said.

“I would love to do more. We’re more than happy to support any family.”