WATCH ABOVE: MADD launches Calgary support group for families. Global’s Nancy Hixt reports.
CALGARY – Family members whose loved ones were killed by drunk drivers will now have a much-needed support group for such a loss.
“Our ultimate goal is to support each other and help get through these new things, new stressors, that we have to deal with as victims of impaired driving,” said Tracy Franklin, whose daughter, Daylene, was killed by a drunk driver in 2003.
Franklin is a former MADD president, still volunteers with that group, and will help facilitate the new group’s meetings.
As Global News first reported in June, Calgary’s MADD chapter was working to put the right resources in place for these families for the past few months.
“We don’t want people walking in and feeling like they weren’t supported…walking out or feeling worse than they did walking in,” said Calgary president Karen Harrison in a past interview.
The need for a group was highlighted after these women were not included in a group that was created for victims of homicide.
The first meeting will be August 18 at the Calgary Genesis Centre, and will tackle how to process the death of a loved one and what to do when stressful circumstances arise.
“Mother’s Day is coming up…Your first Mother’s Day, the first anniversary of the crash, the Christmas, the birthday of the person—these are all huge stressors that how do you deal with?” said Franklin.
With files from Erika Tucker
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