A Friday morning I won't forget

As most readers to this blog know, I lost my sister Karen to a drunk driving crash 11 years ago, and since 1998 have been speaking out about the crash in an effort to make sure no one else goes through that devastation.

So as I packed up my stuff this morning and headed to South Park High School (tonight's their prom), it was just another school presentation..I was wrong.

I patiently waited for the assistant district attorney and police officer to speak. Both of these ladies were excellent. The prosecutor spoke about a crash involving a five year old girl, headed back from a wedding who was decapitated.

The officer told of a police chase she was involved in just last week in which she encountered one of the "drunkest" people she's ever met.

Then it was my turn.

I stepped in front of the students - about 100 or so - and started my PowerPoint. The first slide - a picture of Karen in her dorm hallway.

As I went through the story of what kind of person she was, what happened on that cold March night 11 years ago, I could see tears forming in some eyes.

When I go to all these schools, I don't expect to impact all the teens. After all, it's impossible to reach every one of them. I do hope that at least one listens and doesn't drink...let alone drink and drive.

These students actually got a "2 for 1". Katie, Karen's friend who was driving also spoke about the crash and how her life has been impacted by this drunk driver. How police came to her parents door and they thought Katie was dead.

Katie's a teacher at South Park, someone these kids see in the halls all the time. Now, it's a constant reminder of the dangers of DWI.

It really was an eye-opening experience for these kids.

I was overwhelmed by the response when students came up to me afterwards. Lots of hugs, both students and teachers contributed to Crusade Against Impaired Driving, Inc. (I think we raised $200 for CAID). Some walked away with flyers about CAID's largest fundraiser, coming up this August, the CAID 2nd Annual Softball Tournament.

I think some of these kids really got it. What was it? Perhaps it was a combination of things - Karen being a teenager, the crash took place in South Buffalo, Katie talking about how the crash impacted her...whatever it was...something got to them.

A special thank you to South Park High School, Katie (she never talks about it so I could see that it was hard), and everyone who supports Crusade Against Impaired Driving.

Until next time...


Deanna