Get Motivated. Get MADD. Get Walking.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is launching this new “Walk Like MADD” blog today to share what’s going on with MADD’s annual 5K fundraising walks. We want to encourage a dialogue with people who have been touched by drunk driving and underage drinking, and are motivated to do something about it.
I mention “motivation,” because it’s a complex human emotion that organizations like MADD rely on every day in their volunteer and fundraising efforts.
But honestly, motivation by itself is not enough to make a difference. Having a personal passion to affect change is more often the force behind actions that separates those who merely have strong opinions, from people who do something that makes a real difference.
Walk Like MADD is personally among my favorite and most important fundraising and awareness-building events of the year. MADD will host 30 walks across the US in 2008, which is likely to involve thousands of people who are motivated to act.
Last year, our walk (previously called Strides for Change) raised $1.62 million, and we aim to increase this exponentially every year in order to better serve victims/survivors and to further our Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.
By the way, every dollar raised in our local Walk Like MADD cities goes directly back into the community to fund victim’s services, support for enforcement, advocacy for ignition interlocks and other key legislative initiatives and research-based efforts to prevent underage drinking.
If you’re motivated — and passionate — enough to help eliminate drunk driving, visit our Walk Like MADD website to find a local walk near you. Stop talking about it and get involved. Even if drunk driving has never touched you personally, you never know when it might. I know the experience firsthand, and it’s nothing short of devastating.
We welcome your thoughts and comments about Walk Like MADD. Please note that multiple MADD staffers will be contributing to this blog, and all comments will be moderated.
– Glynn Birch, MADD National President
March 19th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I will see you at the Dallas walk! Our team “National Office - For the Kids” has already raised 60% of our goal and we are continuing to fundraise in honor of the kids that we love. Every child deserves a designated driver and on April 19, we’ll be designated walkers at the Walk Like MADD event.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
YES!!! Go Dallas, Go Raleigh NC!!!!AWSOME!!!!
It’ll be our turn in Milwaukee, WI to step it up and show that we care about our state being the worst drunk driving state!!!
This is my first Walk Like MADD and it will be the first of many that I dedicate to the memory of my baby brother Robbie - killed on May 11, 2007 at the age of 22!
This is so no one has to suffer what we have endured.
April 25th, 2008 at 8:08 am
YES!!! GO WISCONSIN! Go Team Riverside! WI is going to get off the worst list because we have great volunteers, families, walkers, virtual walkers, teams, council members and staff that say enough is enough! We need to stop these senseless tragedies…
In WI each week we lose 7 people and an additional 161 will be injured. We know this, we just don know who it will be.
Remember Statistics have faces, families, lives and that is why we need to “Eliminate Drunk Driving”
WALK WITH US IN MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN on June 14th at Veterans Park!
May 13th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I am walking in the Richmond VA walk like MADD on May 17th 2008 to honor my brother Derrick who was killed by a drunk driver in July 2007. Derrick was only 21 years old with such a bright future and a wonderful life ahead of him.
He is truly loved and missed by so many people. We have already raised more than our goal and I plan to walk and keep on walking every year until drunk driving is eliminated.
In loving memory of my baby brother, Derrick Beckner. We miss you superman!!!!