On a perfect New England spring morning MADD Connecticut kicked-off the Second Annual West Hartford Walk Like MADD. With over 350 walkers, the West Hartford Town Hall was filled with MADD supporters. While many wore t-shirts memorializing a loved one, others proudly represented their high school sports team. You couldn’t miss “The Purple Hippos” in their bright purple hats, or team “HYPE” as they danced down the street in their tie-dyed youth group t-shirts. Without a doubt this was not a sorrowful event, rather one of joy as those Connecticut lives that were lost at the hands of a drunk driver were celebrated by their friends, family, community and strangers. Even testimony from a young woman who lost her leg in a drunk driving crash brought tears of hope and inspiration. This strength and motivation was shared by each of the 47 teams in attendance, all which played a role in raising $20,000 over the goal. However, none of this success would have been possible without the unwavering support of the Walk Committee, made up of representatives from the West Hartford Community. Months before the walk the committee worked tirelessly to have space donated, draw local vendor participation and community support. Thanks to the support of these 10 committee members and the West Hartford Community, the Second Annual West Hartford Walk Like MADD was an absolute success raising more than $72,000.