Woerther Elementary student takes fire truck to school

 (West Newsmagazine March 14th edition!)

Shanley Gibson didn’t take the bus to school on March 13, though her ride was still bright yellow with flashing lights. 

The Woerther Elementary first grader had earned a special honor for collecting the most money ($611) of any student in her school in the annual Kids Heart Challenge, which serves the American Heart Association. A Metro West Fire Protection District truck and firefighters brought her reward to her Ballwin home. 

Shanley Gibson in a Metro West fire engine, her reward for collecting the most money in Woerthr’s Elementary Kids Heart Challenge, which benefits the American Heart Association.

“That was really cool,” said mom Megan Gibson. “The top collector for the school got to have a ride to school on a fire truck. It actually showed up to our house about an hour early. They were the nicest guys, and they took her and her sister (Kenna) around the neighborhood with tons of kids seeing Shanley waving. She headed to school in the fire truck and her whole class came out to see her get off the truck. Her dad (John Gibson) said she had the biggest smile he had ever seen!”

Ballwin Ward 1 alderman Mike Utt, Shanley’s grandfather, was also present that morning. He said that the look on Shanley’s face was priceless, especially considering that the anticipated excitement of the special trip had kept her up most of the night.

However, there is a bit more to the story involving Utt himself, who was a large part of Shanley’s motivation in the Kids Heart Challenge. 

Shanley Gibson in a Metro West fire engine, her reward for collecting the most money in Woerthr’s Elementary Kids Heart Challenge, which benefits the American Heart Association.

"She made it extra important to her because my dad had a heart attack at a young age,” Megan said. 

Several classes at Woerther collected more than $2,000 total, but Shanley described why she was able to do so well individually through the online donation process.

“I have a lot of people that love me,” Shanley said. “Also, I thought it was fun and I liked knowing it changed a lot of people’s lives.”