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Walk Like MADD 5K fundraiser set for Saturday

Community invited to walk and run for a good cause

By CJ HADDAD 4 min read
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JetBlue Park will serve as the backdrop for a 5K this weekend geared towards raising awareness and funds to eliminate drunk and drugged driving.

On Saturday starting at 7:30 a.m., the 2022 Walk Like MADD 5K Southwest Florida takes place in Fort Myers, with participants ending their journey crossing home plate at the spring home of the Boston Red Sox.

“We believe this is an important event because impaired driving is definitely an issue on our roadways, and this event is a great way that people can help MADD make an impact,” said Mothers Against Drunk Driving Chair Trish Routte. “It’s important to know that every single penny raised at Walk Like MADD stays right here in Southwest Florida to assist victims of impaired driving and to expand our education efforts within the community, especially on the high school level.”

Walk Like MADD is a family friendly event in its sixth year, and even encourages participation of four-legged family friends. This one-of-a-kind event sees all participants receive a T-shirt and custom medal, and awards will be given out in various age categories. Video clips of participants will also be available. The Gulf Coast Humane Society will be on hand both before and after the event, as will Canine Ambassador Lt. Hope of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office’s Animal Cruelty Task Force.

Walk Like MADD organizers said the 5K is for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned, serious runner, or just a spirited walker. This is a timed event for the hardcore racers, but participants are encouraged to run or walk at their own pace.

“This is a very unique course on the grounds of JetBlue, and every participant will have the rare experience of crossing home plate on the field,” Routte said. “The grounds of JetBlue are gorgeous, and provides for a serene setting for this early morning event.

“This is a very high energy event, however we also use this time to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives due to impaired drivers. One of the priorities of MADD is to ensure that families impacted by impaired drivers know they have a resource and a support system in MADD and our volunteers. We sit with victims in court and provide resources to help them navigate through the judicial process and everything that goes along with it.”

Routte said that every two minutes, someone in the U.S. is injured in a drunk driving crash. On average, two out of three people will be impacted by drunk driving in their lifetime.

“Talk about a scary stat,” said Routte, who also works with Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers.

Every day in the U.S., 29 people are killed by impaired drivers, she added.

“With Crime Stoppers, we profiled impaired drivers quite often, and it’s scary to see how many repeat offenders we have,” Routte added. “On average, by the time a driver is arrested for their first time of being impaired behind the wheel, they’ve already done it 82 times before they were ever caught. So, when we see people who have been arrested three or four times for DUI, just think about how that math adds up – literally hundreds of times drunk behind the wheel. And every time someone gets behind the wheel impaired, they’re not only putting their own life at risk, but also the lives of everyone else on the roadways.

“Impaired driving is one of the most preventable crimes there is – we just need people to always have a plan on how to get home safe if their plans are going to involve alcohol. There are so many options – rideshares or even a good old-fashioned designated driver. There is just zero reason to ever get behind the wheel drunk or impaired by drugs.”

Interested participants can register online at www.walklikemadd/swfl before the event or up to 7 a.m. on race day. There will be kiosks on-site at the park for those who show up early where they can sign up.

JetBlue park is at 11500 Fenway South Drive in Fort Myers.

-Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj

To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com