Almost every half-hour, there is a death in the United States due to an alcohol-related car crash.
With 600 chapters and two million members nationwide, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is aiming to not just reduce, but eliminate, such fatalities, through the use of school and public awareness programs.
In Michigan, the Macomb, Oakland and Wayne chapters of MADD are the largest and most active, serving over four million people and 15,000 miles of roadways.
Serving such a large area is no easy task, and MADD is asking for the help of residents right here in the Orion area.
Olde World Canterbury Village in Orion Township will host the Second Annual ‘Strides for Change? five-kilometer non-competitive walk, and invites anyone and everyone to register.
Opening ceremonies for the walk are set for 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30. The first Strides for Change walk was also held at Canterbury, in 2005.
Last year, organizers lined up shoes of victims and had the walkers go through the area, in what was a touching moment, to say the least.
‘The 2005 Metro Detroit Walk had 800 walkers in attendance, and monies raised were used to benefit local victim services and programs,? said MADD senior development officer Beth Sowulewski.
Local MADD officials said this year’s walk is shaping up to be even bigger.
‘We need community support in order to make our roadways safer for everyone, and to provide youth the tools they need to protect themselves,? said Michele Compton, executive director of the MADD Oakland County Chapter.
MADD also offers victim support services, but Compton said funding allows them to serve just 10 percent of victims/survivors of drunk driving crashes.
‘That’s why we need the funding raised by this walk,? she said.
The 5K, or 3.1 mile, route will take walkers down Joslyn Road to the Orion Oaks Bark Park, and then back to Canterbury Village.
Local residents can register for the walk as an individual, or form a team with family and friends.
Sowulewski said those participating are free to run or walk, and great incentive prizes are available for individuals or teams that reach certain fundraising goals.
The walk’s national presenting sponsor is Nissan North America, the local presenting sponsor is ACN, and the corporate champion sponsor is Takata.
All three had speakers present at the ‘Strides for Change? kickoff breakfast, held on Aug. 30 at Cantebury. Bob Sump from Nissan, Lisa Krass from ACN and Kevin Kennedy from Takata were all in attendance.
In addition, the three county chapter directors spoke, as well as Sowulewski and Fox 2 News reporter/anchor Ron Savage.
For more information about the walk, or to register or make a charitable donation, visit www.stridesforchange.org and click on the Detroit Metro event site.
Interested parties can also contact Beth Sowulewski at (248) 682-0057 or beth.sowulewski@madd.org.
Registration materials are also available at the Macomb, Oakland and Wayne County Chapters offices.