BY LISA VALENTINE
Review Staff Writer
Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s (MADD) Metro Detroit Chapters have chosen Olde World Canterbury Village in Orion Township as the site for their Strides for Change Walk, happening on Sept. 24.
Strides for Change is a 5K, non-competitive walk that enables corporations and individuals to team up with MADD to help further their mission of keeping children and communities safe.
Whether a victim themselves, or walking in the name of a loved one or friend, teams of walkers are raising money that will that be used to further MADD’s programs, including those for youth, said Beth Sowulewski, manager corporate development of MADD Metro Detroit.
‘Our goal was to raise $100,000, and we are currently at about $80,000,? she said at MADD’s Strides for Change Kick-off Breakfast, held Aug. 24 at Canterbury Castle.
‘Our walk will be really unique…we’re excited about the location,? she said.
Canterbury Village is one of 14 sites where Strides for Change Walks will take place nationally. This is the MADD Metro Detroit Chapters (including chapters from Oakland, Macomb and Wayne Counties) first walk.
‘There were four walks held last year, which was the first year for Strides for Change,? Sowulewski said. ‘The money raised will fund essential programs and services…We really do need to expand many of those, as well as starting some new ones.?
The route for the walk will be from Canterbury down Joslyn Road to Orion Oaks County Park at Clarkston Road, and back down to Canterbury.
The opening ceremonies will be at 8:30 a.m., with the walk starting at 9 a.m. After, there will be events for the whole family, including dogs, at Canterbury.
‘There will be a volunteer booth for more information, and a Kids? Zone with face painting, necklace making, a bounce house, clown, magician and more,? said Sowulewski.
There will also be a health and safety fair, 911 simulator and ambulance there. Entertainment will be provided by the Paint Creek Boys, a bluegrass group, as well as other acts.
Canterbury plans to have 20-40 additional vendors at the event in addition to their permanent stores.
There will also be a ‘Mad Dog Diner,? for ‘canine friends.?
‘We encourage people who would like to bring their dogs out to the walk,? Sowulewski said. ‘We’ll have a ‘top dog? contest, where the winner will receive a week’s vacation at a doggie hotel.?
In addition, MADD plans to set up a victims and survivors tribute area, for those walking in honor or memory of someone.
MADD National President Glynn Birch, ‘MADD’s first dad,? will attend the event. Birch’s 21-month-old son Courtney was killed by a drunk driver in 1988.
All of the money raised by the event will stay in the Metro Detroit area. To participate, local residents can register for the walk as an individual, or form a team of 10 or more people, who are asked to raise $100 each through pledges.
Walkers will receive t-shirts, and there is no registration fee.
According to MADD, a $25 donation enables them to connect with 20 safe drivers who pledge to ‘Tie One on for Safety,? during the holidays, and to provide each with a red ribbon and safe driving tips.
Jeff Kaplan, who lost his long-time friend and co-worker Judith Weinstein when she and her two sons were killed by a drunk driver in May, said he was inspired to get involved in the Strides for Change Walk because of his friendship with the Weinsteins.
‘At age 16, I remember going out with a buddy of mine, and getting some beer illegally,? he said. ‘We got in two minor accidents…No one was hurt, and I really didn’t give it much thought.?
Kaplan, a Birmingham resident and director of Mission Control, IBe Management, said 15 years ago, he stopped drinking at all due to a medical condition.
‘That was, until the (Weinsteins?) accident on May 3,? he said. ‘Now, I actually make sure of what’s set up, if people are going out to drink, and going from one place to another, how are you getting there?
‘I just know there’s a difference to be made,? said Kaplan.
Kaplan is the team captain of the Weinstein Project, a walking team that so far is the top fundraising team in the United States.
Susan Gauthier, a co-worker of Kaplan’s and a member of the Weinstein Project, is the top individual for fundraising in the United States for Strides for Change.
‘We had a team goal of $5,000, and I said I’m going to do $3,000 myself,? Kaplan said. ‘So far, we’ve raised nearly $5,000, and three quarters of that has been Susan.
‘If you’re thinking of $100, you’re playing too small,? he added.
Kaplan said one of MADD’s missions is to make a difference in the schools.
‘In transforming the way kids associate with drinking and driving,? he said. ‘We want kids to know, it’s not cool. Being responsible is the message to get out.?
Michele Compton, executive director for MADD’s Oakland Chapter, said MADD’s programs have proved to be working.
‘This is our 25th anniversary,? she said. ‘We believe we have saved over 300,000 lives. We believe in Michigan, we have reduced significantly the number of alcohol-related crashes.?
‘We’ve done a lot of work through our public awareness programs, and our victim impact panels,? she said. ‘Our victims come and speak with (offenders). Officials say this is one of the most impactful programs the offenders attend.?
MADD has been doing Life Ride for 20 years, offering 8,000 rides to people on New Year’s Eve.
‘Our numbers are going down in the state, and tri-county area,? Compton said. ‘We know we’re making a difference.?
Denise King, victim advocate for the MADD Macomb Chapter, said ‘victims are the heart of MADD.?
‘We go to court with them, and we help them get information on obtaining accident and autopsy reports,? she said. ‘We also help victims prepare their impact statement for sentencing.?
This August, MADD started a 24-hour help line, and updated their literature, including a new workbook for children, King said.
Ne’chole McClendon, executive director of the Wayne County Chapter, said in order to make the community more aware of the dangers of drinking and driving, it is important to start with children.
‘A lot of things are tailored to adults,? she said. ‘But adults are harder to change. We need to get through to the kids.?
The 14 walks for Strides for Change are being sponsored nationally by Nissan North America.
Compton said MADD is hoping for 800-1,000 walkers at Canterbury.
‘In other venues, they’ve had anywhere from 500-2,500 people,? she said.
‘We need community support in order to make our roadways safer for everyone, and to provide youth the tools they need to protect themselves,? added Compton.
MADD has 600 chapters and 2 million members worldwide.
According to MADD, in 2003 in the Detroit area, drunk drivers killed 128 people, seriously injured over 3,000 and caused more than an estimated $20 million in property and personal damages.
Locally, every three out of 10 people are affected by alcohol-related crashes.
For more information, visit www.madd.org.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s (MADD) Metro Detroit Chapters have chosen Olde World Canterbury Village in Orion Township as the site for their Strides for Change Walk, happening on Sept. 24.
Strides for Change is a 5K, non-competitive walk that enables corporations and individuals to team up with MADD to help further their mission of keeping children and communities safe.
Whether a victim themselves, or walking in the name of a loved one or friend, teams of walkers are raising money that will that be used to further MADD’s programs, including those for youth, said Beth Sowulewski, manager corporate development of MADD Metro Detroit.
‘Our goal was to raise $100,000, and we are currently at about $80,000,? she said at MADD’s Strides for Change Kick-off Breakfast, held Aug. 24 at Canterbury Castle.
‘Our walk will be really unique…we’re excited about the location,? she said.
Canterbury Village is one of 14 sites where Strides for Change Walks will take place nationally. This is the MADD Metro Detroit Chapters (including chapters from Oakland, Macomb and Wayne Counties) first walk.
‘There were four walks held last year, which was the first year for Strides for Change,? Sowulewski said. ‘The money raised will fund essential programs and services…We really do need to expand many of those, as well as starting some new ones.?
The route for the walk will be from Canterbury down Joslyn Road to Orion Oaks County Park at Clarkston Road, and back down to Canterbury.
The opening ceremonies will be at 8:30 a.m., with the walk starting at 9 a.m. After, there will be events for the whole family, including dogs, at Canterbury.
‘There will be a volunteer booth for more information, and a Kids? Zone with face painting, necklace making, a bounce house, clown, magician and more,? said Sowulewski.
There will also be a health and safety fair, 911 simulator and ambulance there. Entertainment will be provided by the Paint Creek Boys, a bluegrass group, as well as other acts.
Canterbury plans to have 20-40 additional vendors at the event in addition to their permanent stores.
There will also be a ‘Mad Dog Diner,? for ‘canine friends.?
‘We encourage people who would like to bring their dogs out to the walk,? Sowulewski said. ‘We’ll have a ‘top dog? contest, where the winner will receive a week’s vacation at a doggie hotel.?
In addition, MADD plans to set up a victims and survivors tribute area, for those walking in honor or memory of someone.
MADD National President Glynn Birch, ‘MADD’s first dad,? will attend the event. Birch’s 21-month-old son Courtney was killed by a drunk driver in 1988.
All of the money raised by the event will stay in the Metro Detroit area. To participate, local residents can register for the walk as an individual, or form a team of 10 or more people, who are asked to raise $100 each through pledges.
Walkers will receive t-shirts, and there is no registration fee.
According to MADD, a $25 donation enables them to connect with 20 safe drivers who pledge to ‘Tie One on for Safety,? during the holidays, and to provide each with a red ribbon and safe driving tips.
Jeff Kaplan, who lost his long-time friend and co-worker Judith Weinstein when she and her two sons were killed by a drunk driver in May, said he was inspired to get involved in the Strides for Change Walk because of his friendship with the Weinsteins.
‘At age 16, I remember going out with a buddy of mine, and getting some beer illegally,? he said. ‘We got in two minor accidents…No one was hurt, and I really didn’t give it much thought.?
Kaplan, a Birmingham resident and director of Mission Control, IBe Management, said 15 years ago, he stopped drinking at all due to a medical condition.
‘That was, until the (Weinsteins?) accident on May 3,? he said. ‘Now, I actually make sure of what’s set up, if people are going out to drink, and going from one place to another, how are you getting there?
‘I just know there’s a difference to be made,? said Kaplan.
Kaplan is the team captain of the Weinstein Project, a walking team that so far is the top fundraising team in the United States.
Susan Gauthier, a co-worker of Kaplan’s and a member of the Weinstein Project, is the top individual for fundraising in the United States for Strides for Change.
‘We had a team goal of $5,000, and I said I’m going to do $3,000 myself,? Kaplan said. ‘So far, we’ve raised nearly $5,000, and three quarters of that has been Susan.
‘If you’re thinking of $100, you’re playing too small,? he added.
Kaplan said one of MADD’s missions is to make a difference in the schools.
‘In transforming the way kids associate with drinking and driving,? he said. ‘We want kids to know, it’s not cool. Being responsible is the message to get out.?
Michele Compton, executive director for MADD’s Oakland Chapter, said MADD’s programs have proved to be working.
‘This is our 25th anniversary,? she said. ‘We believe we have saved over 300,000 lives. We believe in Michigan, we have reduced significantly the number of alcohol-related crashes.?
‘We’ve done a lot of work through our public awareness programs, and our victim impact panels,? she said. ‘Our victims come and speak with (offenders). Officials say this is one of the most impactful programs the offenders attend.?
MADD has been doing Life Ride for 20 years, offering 8,000 rides to people on New Year’s Eve.
‘Our numbers are going down in the state, and tri-county area,? Compton said. ‘We know we’re making a difference.?
Denise King, victim advocate for the MADD Macomb Chapter, said ‘victims are the heart of MADD.?
‘We go to court with them, and we help them get information on obtaining accident and autopsy reports,? she said. ‘We also help victims prepare their impact statement for sentencing.?
This August, MADD started a 24-hour help line, and updated their literature, including a new workbook for children, King said.
Ne’chole McClendon, executive director of the Wayne County Chapter, said in order to make the community more aware of the dangers of drinking and driving, it is important to start with children.
‘A lot of things are tailored to adults,? she said. ‘But adults are harder to change. We need to get through to the kids.?
The 14 walks for Strides for Change are being sponsored nationally by Nissan North America.
Compton said MADD is hoping for 800-1,000 walkers at Canterbury.
‘In other venues, they’ve had anywhere from 500-2,500 people,? she said.
‘We need community support in order to make our roadways safer for everyone, and to provide youth the tools they need to protect themselves,? added Compton.
MADD has 600 chapters and 2 million members worldwide.
According to MADD, in 2003 in the Detroit area, drunk drivers killed 128 people, seriously injured over 3,000 and caused more than an estimated $20 million in property and personal damages.
Locally, every three out of 10 people are affected by alcohol-related crashes.
For more information, visit www.madd.org.