CHICOPEE, Mass. - Helping children and families cross the street everyday might seem routine, but for Cheryl Anziano, keeping young people safe is both a big responsibility and a life-long passion.

"Well I had gone to college to be a child psychologist and my first husband and I didn't work out so well," Anziano said. "So I was left with a four-and-half-year-old and a newborn. I had to find something to do to cover in between, so I decided to do this until my daughter was out of grammar school, and she's now 45 years old and I'm still doing the because I love it."

On weekday mornings and afternoons, Anziano can be found patrolling the cross walk by Bowie Elementary School in Chicopee

Earlier this week, MassDOT's Safe Routes to School program recognized her as one of the state’s three Crossing Guard Champions. Anziano said it's in honor, but for her the real reward is doing the job.

"I love keeping the kids safe," she said. "I love seeing their smiles every morning and greeting them every morning, and I just think I'm doing something good to maybe brighten their day I suppose, you know, and keeping them safe." 

But her four decades as a crossing guard haven't always been easy, and have come with some bumps and bruises.

"Well I've been hit by a car," Anziano said. "I've been run over by a mountain bike. I've been sworn at. Once in a while I would get a gift, that was way back when."

And in a city where deadly pedestrian crashes recently led leaders to enact new measures to address roadway safety, Anziano’s role is as important as ever. She’ll tell you it’s one she takes seriously and still has a lot of fun doing.

"A lot of the parents, especially over here, they're just picking their kids up," she said. "They're asking their kids what they were doing that day and they're not paying attention and so I'm big and I can try to block the cars. But I think there should be more awareness with the drivers. They should be off there cell phones. I know it's very, very tempting, but they've gotta drive slower.”