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2012: An amazing year for MADD
April 25, 2013 · 0 Comments
Dear editor:
As 2013 unfolds and becomes a busy one the Barrie/Simcoe Chapter of MADD would like to thank our Communities for an over the top amazing year in 2012.
We started off in April with “Mocktail MADDNESS; celebrating the designated driver and offering an option when trying to separate alcohol consumption with driving. This event was planned and hosted by Georgian College students in the Event Planning program. It was a huge success and we have continued this partnership with Georgian College having had our second Mocktail MADDness in early December. Stay tuned for possible province wide Mocktail MADDness.
April saw us send close to a dozen victims to MADD’s annual conference for victims of impaired driving. This has proven to be a very integral healing component for many.
With June came “Strides for Change” our signature five km event held along Barrie’s waterfront. We raised significant awareness as well as very generous pledges and donations. Watch for Strides June 2, 2013.
Our Annual General Meeting in July celebrated the presentations of several awards for: Policing excellence, Community Heroes who have gone above and beyond to ensure the safety of our citizens, Volunteer of the Year to a lovely lady who has worked tirelessly after the tragic death of her grand daughter and we even had a MADD member presented with a Queen Elizabeth 11 Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Golf Like MADD in September, a little wet but a lot successful. We raised close to $25,000. Wow! A great time was had by all, lots of gifts and prizes. We even presented a “Best Swimmer” (Wes really did go into the pond for his club!) lol Watch for Golf Like MADD Sept. 20, 2013.
We also celebrated our annual Red Ribbon Campaign partnering with our Police and their Festive RIDE in November. The launch was held at Barrie OPP, was well planned with great attendance, guest victim speaker, an Accident Awareness vehicle on display and a RIDE line at the end the ceremonies.
To cap off our amazing year we partnered with Barrie Taxi and Mario Design and we launched a taxi wrapped as a MADD mobile cruising the Barrie streets just in time for the festive season.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to the many volunteers who worked tirelessly planning and helping with all of these events, we couldn’t do this without you. Many thanks as well to the Emergency Services that are of ongoing support to us: Barrie Fire and Emergency Services, Barrie Police Service, County of Simcoe Paramedics, Ontario Provincial Police and South Simcoe Police Service.
Many thanks to our media friends; our message wouldn’t go far if not for all of you!! Huge thanks to our communities who have supported us throughout the year. To the many business’s that offer product, services for our events, we thank you so very much! Your generosity is so very appreciated.
Most importantly thank you to the many participants who came out to support us. Many of you came in memory of someone you lost to an impaired crash, some of you as a survivor, some suffering life altering injuries yet still determined to push on. All of you are an inspiration. We will be maintaining our presence in your communities doing all we can to increase the awareness of the tragic consequences of driving impaired either by drugs or alcohol. We will continue to support the victims of this violent crime helping them to find their way back to a new normal and offering them hope for their future.
Impaired driving knows no bounds, these drivers aren’t particular whose friends or family they kill or maim. We all have a responsibility to stop impaired driving any way we can. Friends and family don’t let friends and family drive impaired by alcohol or drugs. To date it remains Canada’s number ONE criminal cause of death.
If you are interested in making a difference in your Community email us at maddbarriesimcoe@rogers.com or call us at 1-866-466-5310. Our web is madd.ca/barriesimcoe
Kim Butler,
MADD Barrie/Simcoe
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