MADD First Responders Appreciation Event - June 23, 2018

Our 3rd Annual MADD event will be a First Responder Appreciation event, with all proceeds going to MADD. Why MADD? Because of their dedication to raising awareness to drunk/drugged/distracted driving. 

Here are some personal reasons why we appreciate our First Responders and donate to MADD:

Clayton Kester:

On Friday, March 7^th, 2014 at 10:43 PM, Clayton, at 18 years of age, a Senior at Selah High School in Washington state was hit by a drunk driver with a blood alcohol content of .24. The drunk driver was going 80 mph in a 40 mph zone on a two lane road. 

Clayton was making a left hand turn when his killer attempted to pass. Clayton suffered many traumatic injuries! He was airlifted to Harborview Hospital in Seattle WA. His injuries were so horrific, Clayton died on March 8, 2014 at 6:36 AM. His killer walked away. A cross can be found at Wenas Road and Lancaster road, less than two miles from his high school. 

Clayton is forever missed. A granite bench, with a colored picture of Clayton is placed at Selah High School. Clayton’s bench funds were raised within 6 hours! Garrett is Clayton’s younger brother by 4 ½ years. Garrett will forever look to his only sibling, his older brother, as his hero.

Russ Bartlett:

Russ Bartlett was a beloved husband, father, and grandpa to a large family who loved him. He had lived a life that included surviving two tours in Vietnam, serving as a police officer and corrections counselor in Washington and Oregon for more than 3 decades, and being a “retired” barber that many went just to talk with. Russ had been married more than 50 years and enjoyed every day being around his 4 kids and his many grandkids. He was one of the more active 73 year-olds a person could meet, enjoying cycling, running, and playing any sport his grandkids would play. This made it all the more shocking and gut-wrenching when his life was taken much too soon on the morning of May 29, 2014.

Walking down a sidewalk toward a charity event while his car was being serviced, Russ was hit from behind by a young woman driving a motor home at 9:30am. The impact of the motor home severed Russ’s spine and neck bone, killing him instantly before sending him about 50 ft through the air where he slid to a stop along the sidewalk. As horrified onlookers rushed to help, the drunk driver in the motor home attempted to flee, but was apprehended within minutes by state police who had been driving right behind her when she struck Russ. The woman had both drugs and alcohol in her system. Because of her history, instead of the usual bare minimum sentencing, she was sentenced to 14 years in prison for her crimes.

Many of Russ’s family still struggle to cope with how and why his life ended so soon, but many are currently very active with M.A.D.D and Washington state legislature, working to change state and federal laws when it comes to drunk driving felonies and sentencing. While Russ’s life ended way too soon, his family hopes that his legacy will still determine many changes in how states deal with these issues, and on the importance of people making wiser decisions behind the wheel of a car.