Thousands of Runners and Walkers Came Together in Downtown Fort Lauderdale to Support MADD Southeast Florida’s 14th Annual UKG & Salah Foundation Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K
+4 Thousands of Runners and Walkers Came Together in Downtown Fort Lauderdale to Support MADD Southeast Florida’s 14th Annual UKG & Salah Foundation Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K
Thousands of Runners and Walkers Came Together in Downtown Fort Lauderdale to Support MADD Southeast Florida’s 14th Annual UKG & Salah Foundation Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K
Thousands of Runners and Walkers Came Together in Downtown Fort Lauderdale to Support MADD Southeast Florida’s 14th Annual UKG & Salah Foundation Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K
Thousands of Runners and Walkers Came Together in Downtown Fort Lauderdale to Support MADD Southeast Florida’s 14th Annual UKG & Salah Foundation Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K
Thousands of Runners and Walkers Came Together in Downtown Fort Lauderdale to Support MADD Southeast Florida’s 14th Annual UKG & Salah Foundation Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K
Thousands of Runners and Walkers Came Together in Downtown Fort Lauderdale to Support MADD Southeast Florida’s 14th Annual UKG & Salah Foundation Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K
Thousands of Runners and Walkers Came Together in Downtown Fort Lauderdale to Support MADD Southeast Florida’s 14th Annual UKG & Salah Foundation Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K
Drunk driving is a 100 percent preventable crime, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)’s goal is to end impaired driving.
In an effort to support the ongoing fight against drunk driving and drugged driving, over 1,000 walkers, runners, strollers, wheelchair athletes and supporters of all ages came together in Downtown Fort Lauderdale to support MADD Southeast Florida’s 14th Annual UKG & Salah Foundation Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K presented by the Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County on Sunday, April 27.
The event raised more than $225,000 and awareness to end impaired driving for good. The proceeds benefit MADD Southeast Florida’s community education, victim support services and youth prevention programs. The community is invited to participate in virtual fundraising that will remain open until May 31 to support these critical programs offered free of charge throughout South Florida.
Attendees enjoyed festivities including children’s activities, an awards ceremony, live musical performances and vendor/educational booths. LFT Lab and Roar Station’s Alex Piccirilli, a Nike trainer featured on Netflix’s “Kickstart Fitness with the Basics,” led a warmup before runners and walkers hit the starting line. NFL Cheerleader Bella Denton sang the National Anthem, and WTVJ-NBC 6’s Community Reporter Miriam Tapia emceed the event.
The annual fundraiser was attended by dignitaries, including Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K Founder and Honorary Chairperson Heather Geronemus; Honorary Chairperson Colonel Nichole Anderson, Undersheriff of Broward Sheriff’s Office; Sgt. Ryan Clifton from Broward Sheriff’s Office; Sgt. Trevor Thomas from Fort Lauderdale Police Department’s DUI Unit; Lt. Indiana Miranda from Florida Highway Patrol; Broward County District 3 Commissioner Michael Udine; and Fort Lauderdale District 3 Commissioner Ben Sorensen.
At the event, Commissioner Udine presented Geronemus with a proclamation declaring April 27 Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale Day in Broward County. At a City of Fort Lauderdale Commission meeting before the event, City of Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis also presented a proclamation to MADD South East Florida, declaring April 27 Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale Day.
Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K is a community-driven 5K that raises awareness about drunk and drugged driving and underage drinking while uniting community members around MADD’s mission. Since it was established in 2011, Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale 5K has raised more than $4.2 million that stays in the South Florida community to save lives and support victims of drunk driving, making it the most successful grassroots fundraiser in the history of MADD. Every dollar donated remains in South Florida to provide victim services and prevention education at no cost.
“Drunk driving is a 100 percent preventable crime that changes lives forever. We must stand together as a community to end it,” said Heather Geronemus, past chairwoman of the MADD National Board of Directors. “Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash Fort Lauderdale is not just an annual event. It is a powerful movement that saves lives and uplifts victims right here in our own community. This movement thrives because of the unwavering support from our board members, sponsors, donors and neighbors who share our deep commitment to eliminating impaired driving for good.”
Geronemus’ late father, Dr. Robert Perry Geronemus was struck and killed by a drunk driver in 2009.
“This is such a worthy cause to support because every life saved is a family kept whole,” Col. Nichole Anderson said. “The important work being done by MADD Southeast Florida is saving lives and providing valuable support to victims. Hopefully, one day, we will have a future free from the tragedy of drunk driving.”
Drunk driving deaths have increased by 31% over the past decade with someone being killed or injured in a drunk driving crash every 78 seconds. Two out of three people will be impacted by drunk driving in their lifetime.
MADD is committed to leading prevention efforts with young adults, collaborating with law enforcement to keep roads safe from impaired drivers, as well as advocating for stricter sentencing and stronger laws, including the HALT Act that mandates anti-drunk driving technology in every new car. MADD continues to provide support services to victims and survivors of impaired driving at no charge through victim services specialists and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line.
MADD Southeast Florida is grateful for its generous event sponsors including Signature Sponsors UKG and Salah Foundation; Presenting Sponsor Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County; Road Guardian Sponsor Craig Zinn Automotive Group; Corporate Champion Sponsors Broward Sheriff’s Office, Durée & Company, Florida Highway Patrol, JM Family, Memorial Healthcare System and Miami. Heat; Spotlight Sponsors Aetna, Bank of America, BBX Capital, Broward College, Gordon & Partners, Merrimac Ventures, Weston Rotary, and Westway Towing; and MADD Milestone Sponsors Baptist Health, Brinkley Morgan, Broward County Chiefs of Police, CITY Furniture, David Geronemus & Mitzi Lyman, Greenspoon Marder, Holmon Motorcars, Miami Dolphins, Publix, Thomas & Pearl and Warren Henry Automotive Group.
