Seven-year-old with ice cream bucket answers infant’s cry

Nothing is more compelling than the anguished cry of an infant. MADD Canada’s commercial that pictures a baby crying inconsolably in her crib always gets my attention.

Seven-year-old Stefan Cormier, son of Gerald and Sharon Cormier, also got the message. According to his Mom, he became very concerned about this motherless child, to the point that he wanted to do something constructive. At his request, his parents contacted the Digby County chapter of MADD to get permission to raise funds on behalf of MADD victim services.

When MADD contacted me early in January to write something about this, I could not help but think of how his efforts undoubtedly had an effect on every person he spoke with as he collected his donations. Stefan decorated an ice cream bucket and proceeded to enthusiastically solicit door to door for this worthy cause. He also enlisted the help of his brother Andre, 9, in is efforts.

Stefan’s parents were quite amazed that their usually shy and quiet child became so obsessed with this task that he even added his own allowance to the bucket.

On Jan. 29 at the MADD-Digby regular monthly meeting, Stefan presented $124.30 to Susan MacAskill of the organization’s Atlantic regional office.

Helena Winchester of Digby, founding president of the area group, was overwhelmed by Stefan’s initiative and it is her understanding that MADD’s national office will also be recognizing this exceptional effort.

MADD-Digby was established in 1997 as the 23rd organized chapter in Canada. It is going through some changes; in response to an expansion to Annapolis County, it will be renamed as MADD-Bay of Fundy. New president is Middleton resident Jenny Bignell.

Winchester said she has seen some changes in people’s attitudes over the last 10 years, and contends the public now realizes that driving while impaired is a heinous crime. She feels that the organization has played a role in this perceptional shift. Unfortunately she knows that despite all their work people still get behind the wheel while impaired.

In addition to its public awareness campaigns MADD has assumed roles in victim support and advocacy. Lately some of the focus has been on the use of mood altering drugs like marijuana. Although there has been a significant decline in alcohol-related motor vehicle deaths, there is concern that other drug related impairments are an issue.

MADD is a grassroots organization open to all who are interested. For information, contact Helena or Roger Winchester at 245-6235. kristy@ns.sympatico.ca