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Join Mothers Against Drunk Driving Walk in Houlton on April 14
    A Littleton woman is taking a tragic event and directing her energies to create a good memory of her late friend.
    “There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about her,” said Heather Campbell McCarthy. “Darc was my best friend. Whatever we did was fun. We could have the best time just going for a walk, riding a snowsled or making spaghetti. The simple things with her were fun.
    “I guess I took for granted that I would always have those times when the simple things made us smile,” she added.
    On Sept. 13, 1996, Hutchinson was tragically killed in Connecticut when her car was hit by a repeat drunk driver. She was only 21.
    To honor her friend’s memory, Campbell-McCarthy is organizing the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) Walk at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 14, starting at the Houlton High School parking lot. At the same time, in Raleigh, N.C., Hutchinson’s sister and brother, Nicole and Jasen, will also be participating in the MADD Walk.
    “Someday, I hope to make Darcie’s hometown of Houlton, an official Walk Like MADD location,” said Campbell-McCarthy. “But, until then we will continue to do it with Jasen and Nicole under the Raleigh, NC walk, only in Houlton.”
    MADD works in more than 600 communities across the country, and has more than 1,400 trained victim advocates on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to support victims with comfort or legal assistance they can rely on.
    Drunk driving is 100 percent preventable. Yet, the death rate caused by DUI is outrageously high.
    “I have been supporting the MADD programs and I am trying to make a difference,” said Campbell-McCarthy. “Darcie was a loving, kind person who always thought about others before she thought of herself. She was always smiling and had that laugh that was contagious. She was a true friend.”
    On March 2010, the first MADD Walk was established in Houlton with 23 participants.
    “It was done on short notice and during very cold weather conditions,” recalled Campbell-McCarthy. “More importantly, we started something good.”
    The second event was held April 2011 and the number of walkers expanded to 54.
    “We hope to continue to grow each year,” said Campbell-McCarthy. “We are not only walking to remember Darcie, but to remember all victims of drunk drivers and show support to their families and friends.”
    Hutchinson and Campbell-McCarthy were talking prior to the accident making plans for a visit.
    “She said she had to go to the store,” recalled Campbell-McCarthy. “She said she’d call back later. But, later never came.”
    When Campbell-McCarthy received the news, she was devastated.
    “Thoughts were racing through my mind, but the one that still haunts me is ‘Why didn’t I talk to her for just one more minute.’ One more minute on the phone and then she would have been in a different place on the road and that drunk driver wouldn’t have killed her.
    “This is something I still think about today,” she added.
    By organizing the MADD Walk each year, Campbell-McCarthy wants her “BFF” to be remembered for being a loving person, while raising awareness that drunk driving kills.
    “At last year’s walk, more people came than the year before and to look around, it just brought tears to my eyes,” said Campbell-McCarthy. “To see all of the love and support of family and friends, along with friends of friends, was amazing.”
    To help donate to the fund-raising effort, visit the MADD website at www.madd.org.
    “Darcie is gone, but not forgotten,” said Campbell-McCarthy. “She touched so many lives. I hope as many people that can will join us in walking like MADD.”
    Hutchinson meant the world to Campbell-McCarthy.
    “I was lost for a long time without her,” she added. “When I was pregnant for my first child, along came my ‘Darcie’; named after her of course.”
    For more information on the walk, call Campbell-McCarthy at 538-0953; e-mail hcamp21@mfx.net or look her up on Facebook.
    “If you are in the Houlton area and would like to participate in the walk this spring, we would love to have you — the more the merrier,” said Campbell-McCarthy. “Thank you all for your continued support and prayers, it means more than you’ll ever know.”