Thanks for making a difference - MADD

Dear editor;

On behalf of the Barrie/Simcoe Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), I would like to thank our community for helping to make our second Annual five km walk "Strides for Change a success". We raised significant awareness as well as very generous pledges and donations.

The weather couldn't have been better; it was sunshine all the way!

Our heartfelt thanks go out to the many volunteers who worked tirelessly in planning the walk and also came out to help with the event.

Many thanks as well to the Emergency Services that helped with the planning of the walk and also came out to support us the day of.

They are, Barrie Fire and Emergency Services (and the many Fire students), Barrie Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police (Central Traffic Unit) and South Simcoe Police Service.

Most importantly thank you to the many walkers who came out to support us.

Many of you walked in memory of someone you perhaps lost to an impaired crash, some of you were walking as a survivor, suffering life altering injuries yet still determined to push on.

All of you are an inspiration.

Look for us next year, exact date to be announced. In the meantime we will be maintaining our presence in your community doing all we can to increase the awareness of the tragic consequences of driving impaired either by drugs or alcohol. Impaired driving knows no bounds, these drivers aren't particular who they kill or maim. I

t could be you or someone you love that is handed a life sentence in that moment an impaired crash occurs.

Friends and family don't let friends and family drive impaired. We all have a responsibility to stop impaired driving any way we can. A two ton vehicle turns into a killing machine when it's being driven by someone who is not in control of impaired senses let alone control of the vehicle.

If you are interested in making a difference in your Community email us at maddbarriesimcoe @rogers.com call us at 1-866-466- 5310 or come out to our Annual General Meeting being held Wednesday June 27 at 7 p.m. in the rotunda of Barrie's City Hall.

Kim Butler, MADD Barrie/Simcoe