Sister Act Receives Coveted MADD National Award Honoring Victim Advocates
A Brother's Death Devastates a Family
 |
| Lester Clark |
When 33-year-old Lester Clark was killed in a 1992 drunk driving crash, it devastated his four older sisters and their mother, who was widowed the year before. Lester's sisters Pat McCollum and Penny Clark wish they’d known MADD was available to help at the time. Now these full-time MADD volunteers make sure others know that MADD’s support and services are ready to help victims/survivors.
Don't Walk Away Mad
When Lester died, Pat learned a lesson that she shares with every group she addresses. “Don’t walk outside the house mad at anyone,” she warns. “It might be the last chance you have to say goodbye.” She had argued with Lester two weeks before his death – the last time she saw him. Haunted by the fact that her brother died so suddenly, she regrets parting in anger and that she didn’t have a chance to apologize for what she’d said.
Lester's Story
Lester left two children behind – his nine-year-old daughter, Rene, who is now married with two children, and Kevin, who graduated from high school in 2007. Lester and another impaired driver were both speeding when they collided head-on. Reports estimated the crash’s impact was 112 mph, literally jerking the aorta out of Lester’s heart.
The other driver was sentenced to four years, probated to serving community service and avoiding trouble. Within six months, another DUI landed him in jail for four years.
Turning Grief Into Action
The crash so utterly devastated their mom that she couldn’t live alone. So Penny moved from Frankfort, Kentucky with her children. She and Pat are the guardians for their mother, who now lives in a nursing home.
Pat and Penny are both certified victim advocates for MADD, and serve victims/survivors in both Indiana and Kentucky. Having been in the shoes of those they help, they know the importance of listening. They are also well-known to prosecutors and judges and are often called to support victims in the courtrooms. And they also do “all nighters” – roadblocks – generally from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., supplying police officers with snacks and drinks and passing out material to those driving through.
The fact that Pat has diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and Parkinson’s disease, which limits her to a wheelchair when she leaves home, hasn’t slowed her down. She considers the wheelchair “her freedom – a symbol that just because I have it, and have to be in it, doesn’t mean I have to give up.”
A Mission and Passion
“This is a mission of the Lord for me,” says Pat. “If I didn’t have what I do with MADD…it gives me encouragement to get up out of bed and do something for others." It took her years before she could get out and really talk about what happened to her brother.
Penny found out about MADD at the state fair. “It took several years to get involved with MADD, because it was very, very traumatic – really hard to deal with. When I discovered MADD, I was ready. If we’d had MADD earlier, it would have made a big difference, and been easier to deal with our grief. We had lots of questions. If it had been a disease, then we might have thought about losing Lester, but this was something we never expected. We needed answers. We had so many questions.”
“It’s a passion of mine,” Penny says, “to be able to help prevent underage drinking, and be there for others dealing with grief. MADD is such a great avenue for victims, with so many programs, that it makes me feel honored to help others deal with a similar grief.”
 |
| Pat McCollum and Penny Clark |
Brenda Altman Heart of MADD Presidential Award Winners
Honored, indeed. At the September 2008 MADD National Conference, Pat and Penny were recognized as the joint winners of the 2008 Brenda Altman Heart of MADD Presidential Award, given annually to MADD volunteer victim advocates for their accomplishments in demonstrating initiative, creativity and caring to promote healing and growth for drunk driving crash victims.
Described as incredibly hardworking, dedicated and utterly selfless with the gift of their time, these two Indiana residents have been dedicated supporters of MADD’s Louisville-Metro Community Action Site. Pat is a supreme organizer who juggles endless phone calls and appointment scheduling. Penny is a former chef for the Kentucky Governor’s Mansion, who has catered several local MADD events.
Learn more about MADD Victim Services. Call our Victim/Survivor Helpline at 1-877-MADD-HELP (877-623-3435) to speak with a Victim Advocate.
Consider making a donation to support MADD's lifesaving work in honor of special people whose presence in your life has made a difference.