MADD celebrates 20th anniversary
By Jennifer Ormston
New Hamburg (ONT) Independent News
May 28, 2008

Mothers Against Drunk Driving celebrated its 20th anniversary in Waterloo Region recently, but the event was bittersweet for the group's president.

"I have mixed feelings about it," said Sandra Henderson.

When she became involved with the group 16 years ago, she figured the rates of impaired driving would significantly decrease over time.

But that hasn't happened.

"If anything, it's gotten worse," she said. "Our sentencings are worse than what they were back then.

"It was nothing for people to get 4 1/2, five, six years back then. Now we don't even see anywhere near that."

And she knows first-hand the impact this has on families that have lost loved ones because of drunk driving.

"It's devastating to know that their son, daughter, sister, brother, whoever it might be, that that's all they meant. Some guy got off who killed them, and (the family has) a lifetime of dealing with that," she said.

MADD Waterloo Region's anniversary was commemorated with a memorial vigil at the Waterloo North Mennonite Church on Benjamin Road on May 25, which was 16 years to the day when Sandra buried her daughter, Nancy Henderson.

The 26-year-old was driving with her friend to pick up a wedding dress outside of Salem, Ont.

Nancy was going to be her friend's maid of honour -- but that dream was shattered when a car hit them head-on at 5:45 p.m. on May 22.

A van was travelling in front of them, so the girls couldn't see the danger up ahead. And by the time that van drove in a ditch to avoid the oncoming car, it was too late for them to react.

Nancy died about four hours later. Her friend was badly injured, but she survived.

The driver of the other vehicle, a 20-year-old man, was eventually convicted for his crime: drunk driving. He was about four times over the legal alcohol limit at the time of the crash.

Soon after Nancy's death, her sister contacted MADD, and Sharon Lee Wideman, one of the group's co-founders, came to meet the family. "The rest is history," Henderson said.

MADD Waterloo Region provides support to victims and families through the grieving period and court process, as well as undertakes educational and public awareness campaigns. Members speak out about losing a loved one or being seriously injured by an impaired driver.

For the Hendersons, MADD was there to listen. "I know there were a few times I made late-night calls to Sharon Lee Wideman just to talk," Sandra said.

Since then, she's done for many others what Wideman did for her.

"They were just there to walk along beside us really."

The decision to volunteer with MADD, a registered charity previously known as PRIDE, wasn't difficult for Sandra.

She had seen the good work the organization does. So she made a promise to Nancy to do what she could to put an end to impaired driving.

"There's some days when I feel, is this all worth it? After 16 years, you can get burned out," she said. "But then I just remember that I won't give up.

"I don't want this to happen to any one of my other children or my nine grandchildren."

The memorial celebration event -- which was open to the public -- included performances by the regional police choir, remarks by MADD Waterloo Region co-founder Jim Wideman and police Chief Matt Torigian and a candlelighting ceremony.

Candles were lit as the names of victims of impaired drivers were read aloud.