Walkers raise money for M.A.D.D.

HOULTON, Maine — Heather Campbell McCarthy was hoping Saturday’s third annual Walk Like M.A.D.D. in honor of Darcie Hutchinson would draw as many people as last year’s event.
    So when nearly double the turnout arrived at the Houlton High School parking lot, McCarthy was speechless.
“Looking around at everyone that showed up, just brought tears to my eyes,” McCarthy said. “People came to support this great cause that means so much to me. It was just overwhelming in the best possible way. The crowd was amazing and the donations were wonderful and thanks to everyone who made it all possible.”
A total of 115 individuals came out to show their support for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) and in so doing, honoring the memory of Hutchinson, a 1993 graduate of HHS who was killed by a drunk driver in Connecticut in 1996 at the age of 21.
Hutchinson’s sister, Nicole, a 1988 H.H.S. alum, participated in a large scale Walk Like M.A.D.D. event in Raliegh, N.C. Saturday. Her fund-raising goal for that walk was $10,000, but she went on to raise just over $13,500, including $1,006 from the Houlton event. For the second straight year, Nicole’s group finished as the top fundraisers for the Raliegh, N.C. walk.
Saturday’s walk was an unofficial event held on the same day as other Walk Like M.A.D.D. walks. McCarthy said she hopes to one day make Houlton an official site. All the proceeds raised from the Houlton event were given to Nicole Hutchinson for her team.
“It’s hard to believe that she has been gone for 16 years this September,” Nicole wrote on her team’s web page. “Not a day goes by when I do not think of her and wonder what she would be doing now. The pain may not be as severe as it was 16 years ago, but a level of pain does remain.”
“I was so pleased with the turnout, I couldn’t help but smile all day,” McCarthy said. “We are making a difference a little at a time and one day, I believe, there will be an official Walk Like M.A.D.D. site in Houlton. I cannot wait for that day.”
McCarthy said her children, Darcie (named after her mother’s deceased friend), Skyler and Natalee, looked forward to the walk and were a great help. They wore t-shirts from Nicole’s team of the “Walking Wildcats” for Saturday’s event.
McCarthy added she wanted to thank everyone that helped make the walk such a success.
“I want everyone to know how much I appreciate his/her support and what it means to me, because without them, it would not be possible,” she said. “I know Darcie was definitely looking down on us and smiling.”
The Houlton Police Department provided an escort for the walkers. Due to the number of participants, the walkers had to travel on the road instead of the sidewalk as in previous years.
“We had a beautiful day to walk, remembering the good times and a great person (Darcie), and all of the others that have been victims of drunk driving,” McCarthy said. “Drunk driving is a problem that is 100 percent preventable. So if you choose to drink, drink responsibly and don’t drive.”
For more information or to donate, visit www.walklikemadd.org.