HODGDON, Maine — In an effort to continue spreading the word about the dangers of drinking and driving, three representatives from Mothers Against Drunk Driving visited two southern Aroostook County schools last week.
Maine MADD Chapter Leader and Houlton native Nicole Hutchinson, center, caught up with some of her peers during a visit to Houlton Middle-High School Friday, April 26. Hutchinson spoke to students about the dangers of drunk driving. With her are former classmates Heather Johnson and Chris Bossie. (Courtesy of Nicole Hutchinson)
Maine MADD Chapter Leader Nicole Hutchinson, a native of Houlton who now resides in Raleigh, South Carolina, returned to her hometown to speak on April 25 and 26 to middle and high schoolers in both RSU 29 (Houlton) and SAD 70 (Hodgdon).
Hutchinson shared with the students at both schools her own personal story of how her sister Darcie was killed by a drunk driver back in 1996 and how she still feels the sting of that loss today, 23 years later.
Joining Hutchinson were Kim Morris, vice president of victim programs at MADD’s national headquarters, and Jamie Fisher, regional director for MADD’s East Coast.
“We are really trying to bring programs into the area and this is a great opportunity to start,” Fisher said. “Especially now that we know we have a support system in the community.”
The three women not only spoke with students, but also met with staff at Hodgdon Mill Pond and Middle-High schools on ways teachers can better educate their students and also how to recognize signs of potential problems.
“We really wanted to speak to the kids about the dangers of underage drinking,” said Morris.
“We also wanted to give teachers the tools they need to help students,” Hutchinson said. “What I am hoping is that we can get some volunteers who really want to become a part of MADD, so we can build on what we have started.”
Lt. Brian Harris, center, of the Maine State Police Troop F division, met with Jamie Fisher, regional director for the East Coast of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, left, and Kim Morris, vice president of victim programs at MADD’s national headquarters during a visit to northern Maine April 25-26. (Courtesy of Nicole Hutchinson)
What Hutchinson started was Maine’s own MADD Chapter, which officially formed in September 2017. Hutchinson was instrumental in getting a Maine chapter, even though she no longer lives in her home state, because she wanted to keep the memory of her little sister alive and well.
Darcie Hutchinson was a graduate of Houlton High School’s Class of 1993. In 1996, at 21, she was killed in Connecticut by a habitual drunk driver who was a three-time offender. That individual was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with five years suspended.
To honor her sister’s memory, Hutchinson started a “Walk Like MADD” event back in 2016 with the help of Darcie’s childhood friend Heather Campbell, even though Maine did not have an official chapter.
Hutchinson said the support she received from the greater Houlton community has been overwhelming. In 2017, about 150 walkers helped raise $13,000 for the cause. Last year, about 135 people attended and raised just over $8,600. A second walk was held in Portland on Aug. 19 and collected $15,100.
Hutchinson has worked tirelessly with MADD in several states, raising more than $250,000 primarily through Walk Like MADD events in Arizona, Connecticut, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maine. She has attended an average of eight to 10 Walk Like MADD events per year
The fourth annual walk in the Shiretown is scheduled for June 1, and will once again feature an appearance by MADD’s national president Helen Witty. Witty is slated to appear at both Houlton’s walk, and a second event planned for Aug. 24 in South Portland.
For more information on the upcoming walks, visit https://www.walklikemadd.org/.
