Cassie Geary's photo watches over the Norwalk softball tournament, which benefited from fantastic weather.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

Cassie's father, Tom Geary, tells Kyle Morrow about the public service ad featuring the "Click It For Cassie" campaign.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

Norman Abair of New Milford delivers a pitch for Bradford's Athletic Club during the Click It For Cassie Tournament.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

Officer Court Isaac of the Darien Police straps Jon Klein into a car crash simulator at the Click It for Cassie Tournament.

Photo Credit: Eric Gendron

Cassie Geary died in a car crash in 2008. Police say she would have lived if she was wearing her seat belt.

Photo Credit: Nancy Chapman

NORWALK, Conn. – Tom Geary is amazed at how far and how quickly the story of his daughter has spread. In just its third year, the "Click It For Cassie" campaign to spread seat belt awareness has gone nationwide.

In January 2008, 17-year-old Cassie Geary was killed in a car crash police say she would have survived had she been wearing a seat belt. The weather was bad, but Cassie was traveling only 30 to 35 mph, and drugs or alcohol were not involved.

The now well-known blue-and-yellow bumper stickers have been spotted in all 50 states, according to Geary. Pictures of the stickers have been sent from France, Italy and even Antarctica. A public service advertisement detailing Cassie's story has even been published in Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, Redbook and Seventeen.

"We got more than 250 requests for bumper stickers within the first 24 hours of the launch of the ad," Geary said. "When we heard that, my first thought was, 'We're gonna need a bigger boat.' It's really taken on a life of its own and really exploded. It's incredible."

The highlight of the year for "Click It For Cassie" remains local, however, culminating in an annual softball tournament at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk. More than 130 players participated in the third annual tournament on Saturday. Some flew in from as far as Michigan to help raise money for Cassie's cause.

"The thing that really comes back to us is the stories of young people who tell us they used to not wear their seat belt and now they do," Geary said. "We know it's making a difference. That kind of makes it seem like Cassie did not die in vain."

Norwalk and Darien police demonstrated the severity of car crashes with a crash simulator. Volunteers could strap themselves in and experience what it is like to be in a collision at just 5 mph. "[It] scared the [heck] out of me," said Jon Klein of Norwalk. 

"I personally have friends who now wear seat belts that didn't before," Cassie's brother, Shane, said. "Every year more and more people's lives are being saved. That's the whole point behind it—we took such a tragedy and turned into a good thing to help other families."

Did you start wearing your seat belt after hearing Cassie's story? Have you seen the bumper stickers outside of Connecticut? Comment below!

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