This Is Why I Fight

Tonight I had the honor of attending the MADD of Erie County Candlelight Vigil at Chestnut Ridge in Orchard Park. I knew walking in that I would hear stories that would make me tear up.

Not only were there tears shed, but it was eye-opening as well. I say that because hearing all the stories - like the woman who lost her husband of 29 years to a drunk driver, the young woman who was on the back of a motorcycle and survived a collision with a drunk driver, and another mother who's son and daughter-in-law were awoken in the middle of the night when an impaired driver crashed into fence after fence then crashed into their home. Following the vigil, I spoke to a woman who was seriously injured back in 1977 when a drunk driver slammed into the car she was riding in with her mother. Her mother was killed, and because of the significant brain injury she suffered she can't remember her mother or anything before the crash. Another young woman told me about all the injuries she continues to deal with when her "designated driver" who was drunk crashed into a car while driving the wrong way on the 198.

These are the stories of victims and survivors. Those people who have to wake up each day in a new reality. A new reality that shouldn't happen. A new reality that all could have been prevented. Drinking and driving is a choice. Those crashes aren't accidents, they are crashes.

When I started Crusade Against Impaired Driving, my sister became my driving force, my guardian angel. Tonight, seeing the tears and hugging these people made me realize that I have a lot of people to fight for.

I am on a Crusade Against Impaired Driving, and I fight for all victims and survivors of drunk and drugged driving.


Until next time...

Deanna