Mother of teen killed in hit-and-run to host danceathon fundraiser, sign waving in honor of Sara Yara

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Sunday, Feb. 15, marks three years since Sara Yara, 16, was killed by a hit-and-run driver as she was walking to school.

Since then, her mother, Chevylyn Borce, has been fighting for traffic safety and driver accountability and started a nonprofit, Sara’s Heart, with fellow advocate Karen Cheung.

Sara’s Heart hosted a Zumba danceathon on Sunday to raise money for a McKinley High School Scholarship to honor and celebrate Yara’s life and legacy.

“The danceathon really, it makes me feel so great that people are coming out to celebrate her life,” Borce said. “When I announced it, let’s not celebrate the passing of Sarah. Let’s celebrate the life that Sarah left behind.”

While frustrated that Hawaii’s traffic fatalities continued to rise, Borce still hopes her daughter’s story will force drivers to think twice.

“You know, I’m not saying I’m a perfect driver, but I do keep an eye on my speed limit now because of what happened to my daughter,” Borce said. “So I just wish that people out there would do the same.”

Proceeds from the danceathon and t-shirt sales will help students who embody Yara’s values attend college.

Borce also invites the public to join a sign-waving to encourage safe driving on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 2-4 p.m. at the Kamakee and Kapiolani Bus Stop outside of McKinley High School, where Yara was struck.

Borce is collaborating with Chanda Park, whose 21-year-old daughter, Azalia, was also fatally struck by a driver in 2020 while crossing the street. Park founded SafeRide Hawaii, which aims to save lives by providing a ridesharing service that takes intoxicated drivers and their cars home safely.

Borce and Park have been working to turn their grief into action by raising awareness and urging safe driving in our communities. They have also been pushing for reforms and harsher penalties for reckless and unlicensed drivers who habitually ignore traffic laws.

Borce says she is working on a coloring book and hopes to go into schools and talk to children about safety when walking to school.

Watch our Sunrise interview here: