TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The mother of a boy who was hit by a stray bullet from celebratory gunfire on New Year’s Day 2012 is speaking out in hopes of preventing similar injuries.

Sandy Duran of Ruskin created a campaign called Bullet Free Sky after her 13-year-old son Diego was hit in the head by a bullet while standing in his front yard. She’s holding a news conference Thursday to urge people not to celebrate with gunshots.

Diego has undergone several surgeries to remove the bullet from his face, two brain aneurysms and a procedure to seal off leaking spinal fluid.

The non-profit effort was started to raise awareness about the dangers of celebratory gunfire. Sandy Duran created a website and produced a public service announcement to get the message out.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.