Regan gets MADD after son’s death at hands of drunk driver
Published 12:02 am Friday, May 3, 2013
Mechelle Regan of Andalusia is MADD.
She’s MADD that her 27-year-old son was killed by a drunk driver in 2007.
She’s MADD that the driver will spend only 18 months in prison for his crime.
And she’s MADD about the funding reduction that makes it so difficult for the agency to assist grieving families of those killed by drunk drivers.
Sill, Regan isn’t bitter. She’s determined to survive her grief and hopes to help others through similar situations.
“Losing a child is something you never get over,” Regan said. “But without (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) I don’t know what I would have done. It helps you know that you’re not alone.”
Regan’s son, Ashley Logan Moore, was riding a motorcycle on the bypass. A cross sits in his memory there today after he was killed when Jean Jones “whipped out in front of him to go to the car wash.” Regan said Jones was intoxicated, “with liquor still in the back seat of the car.” She said it took six years and countless tears to see Jones – who was initially charged with vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, driving without insurance and driving while suspended or revoked – plea to manslaughter and an 18-month sentence.
Regan said she turned to family friend Shelia Faulkner, whose son was killed three months prior, under eerily similar circumstances; however, no conviction has been made in the case to date.
“Shelia’s the one that told me about MADD,” Regan said. “She came to me, still grieving for her son. She knew I needed help, that I didn’t know what to do.”
Founded by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. MADD also supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge, serving one person every eight minutes through local MADD victim advocates and at 1-877-MADD-HELP.
Both Regan and Faulkner were among those served. Now, the two are aiming to help the agency that has provided support to them by selling raffle chances on a quilt. Tickets are $2 each or six for $10 and available by calling Faulkner at 334-818-1004. The drawing will be held tomorrow at Three Notch Market. Tickets will also be on sale throughout the day. The proceeds will be donated to the Montgomery MADD office.
“You will never be able to let go,” Regan said. “But you have to learn to move on. MADD helps me do that, and now they need our help.”
MADD, who relies on private donations, government grants and corporate sponsorships to operate, has seen a nearly 20 percent drop in its donation based funding efforts.