By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

Samantha Rush has a passion for life, especially women seeking help in a crisis situation. She has found an outlet for her passion, Sav-A-Life Shelby, the only crisis pregnancy center in Shelby County under the umbrella of Care Net.

“Life decisions require life support,” said Care Net President Roland Warren. Rush began working at the center, located at 3156 Pelham Parkway in Pelham, as a volunteer counselor in 2003 and became a board member in 2010.

“The center provides pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, information on alternatives to abortion, prenatal classes, parenting classes for men and women, abstinence classes for high school and college girls, all free,” said Rush. “Sav-A-Life saves lives from a spiritually based perspective.”

Rush grew up in Shelby, the daughter of Sam Bristow and the late Shannon Bristow. She graduated from Shelby County High School in 1999 and the Birmingham School of Law in 2008.

She is married to Andy Rush, son of Kenny and Sherry Rush of Columbiana, and they have one daughter, Hunter. Rush is a lifelong Shelby County resident, is a member of the Alabama-GFWC Vignette Club and has a law office on Main Street in Columbiana.

“I have been involved with this organization because I believe everyone should have a birthday,” said Rush. “As Dr. Seuss said, ‘A person is a person, no matter how small.’ Sav-A Life equips women to choose life, and provides love and support for each person that walks through the door of the clinic.”

Sav-A-Life, which is totally privately funded with no federal dollars, has two fundraisers per year: Annual banquet in October and LifeSaver Walk and Family Fun Day on April 5, 2014, at Valleydale Church 2324 Valleydale Road, Hoover, Ala. 35244.

Activities begin at 8 a.m. and include a bounce house, carnival games, face painting, balloons, prize raffles, crafts, food and more. Family Fun Day wristbands are $10 per person and $20 maximum per family. The walk begins at 9 a.m. and wristbands are provided free to participants. Events end at noon.

To register and help Sav-A-Life, go to Fundeasy.com/m/1680138/ or Ministrysync.com/event/website/?m=1680138#4.