LONDON, Ky. (WKYT) – It’s a night of banding together as a community and a night of remembrance.
The May 16 deadly tornado claimed the lives of close to 20 people.
“It’s like a gut punch every time and just the shock has not wore off,” Michelle Baker, President of London KY Strong says.
For Baker and her family, loss is personal.
She says her first cousin, Lisa Fortney was like a sister to her.
“She loved her daughter more than anything in the world. She was just a fun loving person, a hard worker, she was just fun to be around, and really, she was part of the glue for our whole family,” Baker says.
Baker started London KY Strong alongside her sister, Chasity Whited and her daughter, Emily Wagers.
After Baker met other survivors who lost their loved ones, she says the driving force became remembering all.
The main event is a candlelit walk to remember lives lost.
“I guess it’s one of those things that I’m glad that they don’t have to go through it alone,” Baker says.
“We have had so many people reach out and help and there has been other organizations in different areas, we [didn’t] have one specifically for this area,” Whited says, who is also the London KY Strong secretary.
Now, London Kentucky Strong has created a storm fund for future disasters.
Proceeds from food trucks, a dunk tank, face paint, raffle tickets, and a silent auction at the event will go towards the fund.
You can donate to the storm fund on Venmo: @londonkystrong
More information on the organization can be found on their Facebook page.
London KY Strong will now host a 5K Run on the anniversary of the tornado each year, starting on May 16, 2026.
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