More than 3,000 participants showed their support for MADD North Texas at our 6^th annual Walk Like MADD in Uptown Dallas on April 25, 2009, which was locally presented by GEICO.  Rebecca Miller, from The 33 News, showed her support by emceeing the event. 

 There was food, fun and entertainment for people of all ages; Kids were able to enjoy face painters, balloon artists, games and cotton candy while the Teen Scene hosted a lyric contest, Wii competitions, and dancing.  Victims and their families were able to offer support for each other in the Victims Survivors area and many teams wore shirts in honor of a loved one who has been injured or killed by drunk driving.  Even dogs were able to enjoy the day at the Pooch Parlor.  The Health and Safety Fair provided participants with useful information and fun, such as free massages, giveaways and interlock demonstrations. To pay tribute to drunk driving victims, 1,300 pairs of shoes were displayed to represent the number of lives lost in Texas due to drunk driving in 2007. Texas leads the nation in drunk driving fatalities and almost 25% of those deaths occurred in North Texas.    

While participants remembered those lives lost, they also had a chance to celebrate their fundraising success, which will help MADD North Texas continue to support victims and educate the youth, all at no-cost.The drum line and cheerleading squad from South Oak Cliff High School kicked off the 5k walk with their cheers and beats that could be heard all around the neighborhood.  Walkers were able to enjoy a relaxing walk through the Uptown area, where many cars and people were able to see and hear the supporters of MADD!   Along the route, they were greeted with water, food and cheers from The Roy Williams Safety Net Foundation, Greenz and Hillcrest Bank.

Thanks to the hard work of all, MADD North Texas raised over $135,000 to help support our efforts to eliminate drunk driving.  Next year, we look forward to adding a second walk in Fort Worth, which will allow more people from all 31 counties we serve to participate in the walk itself.  

Lights, sirens, and walking….

That’s what was happing in Houston, TX on April 4^th. Houston held its fourth annual Walk Like MADD at MacGregor park. 

More than 400 walkers came out to Walk Like MADD and to help in keeping our communities safe. Deborah Duncan kicked off the event; along with the Houston Aeros dance team, the Aerosdynamics, and their mascot Chili.  The walk was started with a police helicopter buzz by. 

Demonstrations of alcohol ignition interlock took place before and after the event; along with many booths participating in the health and safety fair.   There were police vehicles lined up for walkers to see inside the vehicles, and to play with the sirens and lights. Roxy and Shadow showed off their skills in the K-9 demonstration, and the BAT Mobil was there to explore.    It was a nice day, and the park atmosphere was great for the participants. 

On Saturday, I participated along with 3,000 other walkers, in the Dallas Walk Like MADD event.

While sporting my new 2009 WLM T-shirt around town after the event, several people asked me, “What does ‘one in three’ mean?” 

“I’m glad you asked,” I said.  “Did you know that one in three individuals will be involved in an alcohol related crash at some point in their lifetime?” 

What a shocking statistic! 

When you wear your official 2009 WLM t-shirt, remember that it is an opportunity to start a conversation about drunk driving and share that it is not a crime that only impacts other people.  We are all at risk but there is a solution…

MADD knows how to eradicate drunk driving in America within our lifetime.  The Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving calls for a breath alcohol ignition interlock on all first-time convicted offenders. 

An interlock devise can prevent a vehicle from being driven by a convicted drunk driver.  It stops offenders in their tracks.  They simply cannot start their car.

Interlocks are effective.  There are over 20 high quality studies on the effectiveness of interlocks on first-time and repeat offenders.  All show decreases of 50 to 90 percent in repeat offenses when the interlock is on the vehicle. 

For more information about interlocks, visit madd.org at http://www.madd.org/Drunk-Driving/Drunk-Driving/Campaign-to-Eliminate-Drunk-Driving/Ignition-Interlocks.aspx

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. 

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.