NARRAGANSETT — By 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, the day had turned cool, quiet and sunny, and for those gathered on Narragansett Point Beach, it was the perfect day to make a difference. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) bands together every year across the country for Walk Like MADD, their signature fundraiser honoring victims and bringing public awareness to the dangers of drunk driving and underage drinking.
An average of 37 individuals are killed daily due to impaired driving — one person every 39 minutes. These are not just numbers; they are real people. Kristen Hatch, 20, was a member of Delta Zeta sorority at Bryant University in Smithfield. She was killed while jogging. Linda Sherman was riding her bicycle when killed only five days shy of celebrating her 54th birthday. Matt Macy, 26, loved racing, but his skill could not help him when a drunk driver crossed the median and struck his car head-on.
One of the saddest stories is that of Katie DeCubellis. A few days before Halloween in 1999, she and her best friend Becky Bowman painted their nails with glow-in-the-dark nail polish. Katie had just celebrated her 13th birthday; Becky was 14. The pair would then get in the car with Becky’s mother, 44-year-old Marsha, for a trip to the Warwick Mall. Along the way, a drunk driver would cause a collision so bad that their car would be torn into three pieces. Only Becky would walk away from the crash.
Becky Bowman, now Rebecca White, is a motivational speaker that spreads her story. She even visited The Prout School back in 2017, helping to inspire what would become Youth Driven RI, a student-led traffic safety program.
Christ the King Catholic Church in nearby Kingston reserves a space for Katie during their Masses. This year, MADD RI gathered with the Katie DeCubellis Memorial Foundation (KDMF) to honor her in Narragansett, her childhood home, on the 25th anniversary of her death. Katie’s parents John and Meg DeCubellis established the KDMF to keep Katie’s memory alive and share her story. They show the world that “her light still shines.” Today, they’ve raised more than $1 million for scholarships and community projects. They have spoken to over 200,000 students nationwide. This year, Katie would have been 38 years old — the same age her mother was the night Katie died.
The family gathered on Narragansett Point Beach before the walk to release one white butterfly for every year since Katie’s passing. “It is such a privilege to continue joining together with MADD RI in paying homage to all of these victims and continuing to spread public awareness 25 years after Katie’s death,” said John DeCubellis.
MADD RI dedicates every walk to a different victim, but along the route, photographs and names are displayed of all victims. Everyone walks for a reason. It isn’t just a time for mourning and remembrance, it’s a call to action. According to its website, MADD’s mission “is to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking.”
MADD was founded in 1980 by Candace Lightner after her 13-year-old daughter Cari was killed on her way to a church carnival in Fair Oaks, California. The driver, out on bail from a different hit and run crash, struck Cari from behind, throwing her 125 feet and out of her shoes. After serving just 18 months, he would strike another young girl while driving drunk.
Lightner vowed to bring justice to victims and their families with her faith and perseverance. She carried her daughter’s photo with her, and this became a pillar of MADD — putting names and faces to the statistics. In the following years, Lightner would be joined by others like her. Cindi Lamb’s daughter Laura became the nation’s youngest quadriplegic at only 5 months old after a collision with a drunk driver. Laura would pass away at only six from complications due to her injuries. Pauline Allard, founder of MADD’s Rhode Island Chapter in 1983, lost her 16-year-old daughter Denise to a drunk driver. Pauline would be an active intercessor until her death in 2012, finding her strength in prayer.
“This year is the largest walk we’ve ever had,” said victim advocate Jennifer O’Neil, a 16-year volunteer. She and other members of MADD have had a noticeable impact. In[JB1] just 2021, the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act marked a historic moment. It is expected that this legislation will save over 10,000 lives annually. “We are so grateful for the support,” she added.
Beyond fundraisers, support groups, and legal advocacy, MADD also employs underage substance use prevention programs linked on their website.
Impaired driving is a “one hundred percent preventable crime,” O’Neil said.
For those who have suffered the loss of a loved one due to impaired driving, support is available at no cost 24 hours a day via the MADD Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP (1-877-623-3435) or www.MADD.org.
