FROM STAFF REPORTS

VALDOSTA, Ga. – Representatives of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) chapters in Hamilton County and Suwannee County visited Moody Air Force Base, near Valdosta, on July 2 as guests invited to speak to troops about the dangers of drinking and driving.



Doris Kaley of MADD Hamilton County and Barbara Lewis of MADD Suwannee County presented their personal testimonies, description of services MADD offers to victims and to their families, along with a more detailed history of how MADD came about and the reason why MADD has to “get MADD all over again.”



Sergeant Peggy Rollins of the Moody Air Force Base “Sober Ride Program” gave a brief history of MADD and introduced Ms. Kaley and Ms. Lewis.



Rollins also provided a representative from the Life Skills Support Center that provides briefings, training and education on alcohol in case one wanted to talk after the presentations. An estimated crowd of over 1,400 service men and women heard the talks.



The mission of MADD is to “stop drunk-driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.”



Between 1980 – the year MADD was founded – and 1994, the rate of alcohol-related traffic deaths dropped by a dramatic 43 percent. Since then, the annual drunk-driving death toll has stalled at approximately 16,000-17,000 people.



Master Sergeant Jeff Hollinshead, First Sergeant of the 347th Maintenance Squadron from Moody AFB in Valdosta, contacted Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in Hamilton County via the Internet concerning the rise in Alcohol DUI/DWI, on base and off-base nationwide.



According to MADD officials, the Air Force is interested in another effective way to help those who would be greatly affected by this violent crime.



Major Scott T. Fike, Commander of the 347th Maintenance Squadron, and Master Sergeant Rodney A. Krause, Assistant First Sergeant of the 347th recently met with Kaley and discussed various details.



Since 2000, the year Kaley lost her husband and neighbor’s husband, alcohol-related traffic deaths have jumped by the largest percentage on record.



Moody AFB will be working together with MADD in helping reduce DUI/DWI and alcohol-related deaths.