Music City was a rockin’ on Saturday, June 21, as more than 200 walkers participated in the Nashville Walk Like MADD 5K walk. In its third year, the Nashville event raised more than $72,000 to support MADD’s mission and the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.

Anna Marie of the Mix 92.9 Morning Show kicked off the festivities as award-winning country music star, Julie Roberts, distributed Top Walker Awards.

The media had a strong presence taking extensive shots of the interlock demonstration and interviewing Glynn Birch, former MADD National President as of July 1st, and Julie Roberts.

Before lacing up their shoes for the Saturday walk, officers and staffers from the Metro Police, the Vanderbilt Police and the Tennessee Highway Patrol received some much needed pampering with pedicures from the Relache Spa at the Gaylord Opryland.

The Sunshine State was shining bright as more than 400 walkers came out to show their support for Mothers Against Drunk Driving at the Tampa Walk Like MADD 5K walk on Saturday, June 28th.

In its first year, the Tampa event raised more than $68,000 to support MADD’s mission and the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.

One of the highlights of the day was when MADD’s current national president, Glynn Birch, introduced MADD’s New National President, Laura Dean Mooney, who assumed office July 1. The opening ceremony began at 7:00 a.m. and support from local law enforcement was represented followed by police cadets who lined the walk in the park.

The media presence was outstanding with four cameras, two from Bay News 9 which are a division of the Walk’s walks major sponsor the Bright House Network, WTVT-TV and WFLA-TV. Reporters interviewed Glynn and some victim survivors, captured footage from the ignition interlock demonstration, as well as obtained footage of the walk.

Photo: julieroberts.com

Now there is another great reason to Walk Like MADD in Nashville on June 21.

Award-winning country music star, Julie Roberts will join MADD on walk day to help eliminate drunk driving in Tennessee.

Roberts will be on hand to sign autographs, hand out Top Walker Awards as well as perform. The Nashville walk starts at 2600 West End Ave. in Centennial Park.

Opening ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. with the walk getting underway at 9 a.m.

MADD’s team poses with Vince Gill (L to R: Millie Webb, Angela Adams, Vince Gill, Brad Bulla and Alexanderia Honeycutt)
Baseball never sounded so good! Grammy®-winner Vince Gill joined a bevy of celebrity singers and Tennessee Titans to headline MADD’s annual “Cops Versus Jocks” Celebrity Softball Game in Nashville on June 3.

Area radio station Big 98 and celebrity players joined the Mt. Juliet Police Department for the game that ended in a tie. Proceeds from ticket sales and a silent auction were donated to the Mt. Juliet Police Department’s Mothers Against Drunk Driving Walk Like MADD team.

Featured players included Andy Griggs; Carolina Rain; Julie Roberts; Greg Cook and Troy Nelson of Ricochet; Kristy Osmunson and Kelley Shepard of Bombshell; Linda Davis; Sherrill Blackman; Damien Horne; Laura Byrna; Jeremy McComb; Rhett Akins; and of the Tennessee Titans, Craig Hentrich, Donnie Nickey, Javon Kearse, Rob Bironas, Chris Hope, and Casey Kramer.

Want to join the team? Walk Like MADD in Nashville June 21. You can also join from anywhere as a virtual walker, or make a charitable donation to support the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.
Visit www.walklikemadd.org or call 615-360-8055.

The stars are out tonight: Cops and celebrity jocks pose for an end-of-game picture. The game ended in a tie, but the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving came out the winner as the Mt. Juliet Police Department’s Walk Like MADD team raised more funds to end drunk driving.

The smell of salt water and the sounds of the beach were in the air on May 10 at the Orange County, California Walk Like MADD 5K walk where over $113,000 was raised to support MADD and its Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.

More than 500 people came out to Huntington Beach, “Surf City USA” to enjoy a walk along the beach and support MADD. The day’s festivities kicked off with a pre-walk ceremony featuring remarks from California Assemblyman, Todd Spitzer, Orange Mayor, Carolyn Cavecche and Huntington Beach Councilman Gil Coerper. In addition to speaking, Cavecche presented a $1,000 check to MADD.

Demonstrations of an alcohol ignition interlock took place before and after the walk as well as tours of police SWAT vehicles and a demonstration by the Huntington Beach Fire Department of a Jaws of Life rescue.

MADD is actively supporting legislation currently being considered in the California State Assembly, AB 2784 sponsored by Assembly Member Mike Feuer, that would require all convicted drunk drivers, including those convicted for the first time, to install an alcohol ignition interlock on their vehicle.

Mark your calendar for the 2009 Orange County Walk Like MADD on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at Huntington City Beach.

We’ve uploaded some photos from the Walk Like MADD walk held in Dallas, TX on April 19, 2008.

Check them out!

Pictured here at the Dallas “Walk Like MADD” event is a demonstration of the breath alcohol ignition interlock device, which prevents a vehicle from being driven by a drunk driver. 

On Saturday, April 26, MADD executives and an estimated 1,500 supporters will be on hand for Walk Like MADD held at the Phoenix Zoo, which is showing its support by providing free zoo admission to all walk participants.

Phoenix retailer, Twist Boutique, is also supporting the event and raising awareness by dressing window mannequins in Walk Like MADD t-shirts.  Twist Boutique will also donate 10% of purchases by customers who present a special Walk Like MADD e-mail at the time of purchase.

Visit the Phoenix Walk Like MADD site for more details and to sign up or donate.

Mannequins decked out with Walk Like MADD t-shirts have been spotted at the Lucy stores in West Village in the Plaza at Preston Center as well as Banana Republic in Highland Park Village. Even some fake furry friends are getting in on the act with their own, pooch-sized Walk Like MADD t-shirts at The Yap in West Village.

Why are these faux friends making a statement with the hottest t-shirts in town? They are doing their part to help spread the word about MADD of North Texas’ signature 5k family fun run, Walk Like MADD, which will take place on Saturday, April 19 at Williams Square in Las Colinas. Funds raised help further MADD’s life-saving mission to assist victims of drunk driving, legislation to help prevent it, and technology to keep our roads safer.

Help MADD Eliminate Drunk Driving by participating in Walk Like MADD.

A big congratulations goes out to MADD’s North Carolina Walk Like MADD team, local volunteers and the hundreds of walkers who raised nearly $85,000 on Saturday, March 29 to help support MADD programs.

The money raised exceeded the pre-event goal by $5,000, despite some cold, windy and rainy weather that may have kept some walkers away. But a little weather didn’t keep the walk from becoming very successful.

On hand in Raleigh were U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, a long-time MADD supporter and honorary chair of the day’s events, MADD’s National President Glynn Birch, MADD CEO Chuck Hurley and other dignitaries.

Live demonstrations of alcohol ignition interlock devices were also conducted, and a pre-event “Pedi Party” helped build a lot of excitement among the walkers.

Finally, the local media made a strong showing as well,giving Walk Like MADD some good pre- and post-event publicity.

Here are some links:

Walk Like MADD to aid group’s efforts

Hundreds ‘Walk Like MADD’ Against Drunk Driving

Raleigh Residents Walk Like ‘MADD’ To Raise Money

Click here to see all the Raleigh Walk Like MADD photos!

MADD recently asked resident of Raleigh, NC about their thoughts on drunk driving, and we’ve have just posted a video on YouTube with some of their comments.  By the way, Raleigh’s Walk Like MADD fundraising walk takes place on Saturday, March 29, so if you live in that area and want to get involved, you can sign up here.