Back to Home Media Blog Kern County Unites Against DUI Crimes, Raising $71,000 in 11th Bakersfield ‘Walk Like MADD + MADD Dash’, Presented by Chain | Cohn | Clark

Kern County Unites Against DUI Crimes, Raising $71,000 in 11th Bakersfield ‘Walk Like MADD + MADD Dash’, Presented by Chain | Cohn | Clark

September 25, 2024 | Article by Chain | Cohn | Clark staff

Kern County Unites Against DUI Crimes, Raising $71,000 in 11th Bakersfield ‘Walk Like MADD + MADD Dash’, Presented by Chain | Cohn | Clark

Hundreds of crash victims, family members and friends, law enforcement officers and first responders, community leaders, and supporters came together Saturday morning at the Park at River Walk to march, run, and call for an end to impaired driving crashes in Kern County.

This year’s Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash – presented by Law Office of Chain | Cohn | Clark and Valley Strong Credit Union – raised nearly $71,000 to help victims of DUI crashes, raise awareness in local schools, support DUI checkpoints, and provide for MADD Kern County prevention programs. Since the first Bakersfield Walk Like MADD in 2014, community members have helped raise nearly $700,000 for these local programs.

Kern County ranks among the worst for DUI arrests and injury crashes in California and United States. In 2023, Kern County experienced 550 alcohol-related crashes in which 769 people were injured and 41 people died, according to Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System.

“Every life lost or forever changed by impaired driving is one too many,” said Jorge Barrientos, co-chair for the event’s planning committee. “We walked and ran today to honor the victims and survivors, but also to remind everyone that we have the power to prevent these tragedies. Together, we can make our roads safer and stop impaired crashes in Kern County.”

Walk Like MADD featured an opening ceremony with statements from representatives of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, victims, elected officials, followed by a kid’s fun run, a timed 5K run, and a march by victims, their families and supporters. An awards ceremony included winners of poster contest from students at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County (first place went to Ava Leisenfelder).

Medals and trophies were awarded to the fastest runners in their respective age categories and also to top fundraisers. They were:

  • Top Friends and Family Teams: In Memory of Rae and Raegan Sorenson
  • Top Individual Fundraiser: Lorraine Duran
  • Law Enforcement Challenge Trophy: Bakersfield Police Department
  • Corporate Challenge: Valley Strong Credit Union
  • Top Male Runner: David Aung, 18:17 (Youth Male: Angel Martinez, 16:59)
  • Top Female Runner: Cassidy Sugimoto, 24:01 (Youth Female: Natalie Munoz, 21:10)
  • Kid’s Fun Run: Valentina Amezcua

For complete race results, view the following:

Presented by Law Office of Chain Cohn Clark and Valley Strong Credit Union, the event was also sponsored by Bakersfield Police Department Traffic Division, Bakersfield Police Officers Association, Courts & Greens, Eagle Mountain Casino, Kern County Prosecutors Association, Punjabi Golf Association Bakersfield, Rain for Rent, Salty’s BBQ & Catering, Amerivet, Janaway Publishing Inc., Kern Family Healthcare, Mission Bank, Action Sports, Amandeep Basra, Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Sully’s.

To view photos from the event by photographer Mark Duffel, click here.

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