On February 20th, 2003, the Station Nightclub Fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island occurred killing 100 people and injuring 230. The fire began when the band Jack Russell's Great White set off fireworks in the building which caused flames to quickly spread throughout the building. Today, we honor both the 100 that lost their lives because of the tragic event, while also honoring the survivors like Gina Russo, who are here today to tell their stories, and share the important message of advocacy for fire safety in our community.In this episode, we talk with Gina Russo and Amy Acton, Phoenix Society’s CEO about the event, hear Gina’s account of what happened that evening, and dive deep into learning more about the importance of advocacy and fire safety awareness to prevent events like these from happening again. Gina shares more about her 20-year healing journey, and how she plans to both honor and remember the event on this monumental anniversary.About Gina RussoGina Russo was born and raised in Cranston, Rhode Island. She is a mother to two amazing sons and has worked at the local hospital for 32 years, In 2003, she and her fiancé attended a concert at the Station Nightclub in West Warwick that turned into a deadly blaze, killing 100 including her fiancé Freddy. Gina survived the accident with 3rd and 4th degree burns to 40% of her body - and she only learned about Freddy's death after coming out of a medically induced coma 12 weeks later. In 2009, she self-published a book titled “From The Ashes.” It was written for a therapeutic reason but wanted to share her story with others. She is proud to share that the book went on to sell for 3,500+ copies and opened up a world of public speaking about living and surviving such a tragic event.  Today, she is a Phoenix SOAR Peer Supporter and loves giving back and helping new survivors navigate their new life and get back to living. She has been married to her husband, Steven, for 15 years and loves her life as a burn survivor and what it has opened up for her. She is grateful for the opportunity to meet so many amazing people and the opportunity to help others. About Amy ActonAmy Acton is the Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, where she has served the organization for over 20 years. Amy is a burn survivor, former burn nurse, and leading advocate for the burn community. She has dedicated her career to promoting the expansion of burn recovery services and resources for burn survivors and their loved ones.Since 1998, Amy has served as a critical bridge to the communities of survivors and healthcare professionals alike, ensuring that both communities are seen and heard to help create positive outcomes for both. Amy began her career as a nurse and later nurse manager of the burn unit at Spectrum Health Regional Burn Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she herself was treated at the age of 18 for an electrical burn injury. Since becoming the CEO of Phoenix Society, Amy has played a critical role in building the organization to the leading national resource it is today.Read Amy’s Full BioResources from the Show Read Gina’s BookStation Nightclub Fire Foundation WebsiteFollow the Station Nightclub Fire Foundation on FacebookBoston Globe 20-Year Anniversary ArticleNational Fire Sprinkler Association WebsiteNational Fire Protection Association WebsiteLearn More About PTSD After a Burn InjuryRead About Home Fire SprinklersRead About Fire Safety AssumptionsAbout Our Partner, NFSAFor over a century, the National Fire Sprinkler Association has been advocating for a stronger industry and a safer world by promoting fire sprinklers in model codes and legislation. Their mission is simple: “To protect lives and property from fire through the widespread acceptance of the fire sprinkler concept.” NFSA is the premier resource for quality education in the fire industry.Sponsor Girls with Grafts Interested in becoming a sponsor of the show? Email us at info@phoenix-society.org. En