Candy Lightner

"Death by drunk driving is the only acceptable form of homicide" (Candy Lightner).  Candy Lightner was a political figure in the creation of Mother's Against Drunk Driving. By having her own traumatizing personal experience with losing a daughter to a careless drunk driver, she founded the MADD organization. Candy Lightner was born May 30, 1946. She grew up in California and attended American River College in Sacramento. A few years pass and she later married Steve Lightner and had 3 children. Her life was perfect until her daughter's tragic accident.  In 1980, her daughter Cari was killed by a drunk driver. The impact threw her 125 feet, knocking off her shoes and destroying every organ in her body. After the tragic accident, Lightner quickly formed MADD (Mother's Against Drunk Driving) to raise awareness on the problem, and fight for laws against offenders. Lighter was determined to save lives and make sure that alcohol related deaths would drop. (Biography.com Editors)

A hero must possess bravery and compassion. Candy Lightner, founder of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), was an inspiration because of her passion for saving lives and her headstrong hard work. Candy Lightner contained a compelling passion for the preservation of the many lives of teenagers and adults that are at stake through the risks of drunk driving. A hero has to be devoted and passionate in what their doing. Candy Lightner definitely had those qualities during the creation of MADD. She devoted herself into raising the legal drinking age to 21. "Through MADD, Lightner helped get new anti-drunk driving legislation passed in individual states and nationally. One of the group's most significant accomplishments from this time was the national law that raised the legal drinking age to 21." (Biography.com Editors) Candy Lighter was inspiring as she saved many people's lives and she passionately dedicated her life to the cause of anti drinking and driving. Through her hard work and perseverance, she was able to single handedly raise the official law of drinking from 18 to 21. Now, Lighter was more passionate than ever to follow out her goal; "She was encouraged in 1981 by the approval of new laws in nine states allowing law enforcement agencies to pursue drunk drivers more rigorously than before, and at her prompting, her native state of California passed a tough drunk driving code which caused alcohol-related traffic accidents and deaths to fall dramatically."

("Candy Lightner." Contemporary)

Lightner was passionate and devoted her life to MADD. Her thoughtfulness to save others really inspires me to strive to be a better person. Lightner never stopped until her goal was met.  Her amazing organization caused many alcohol related deaths to disappear. Lightner's goal was to raise awareness for this tragically increasing risk. She was unconventionally passionate about saving the lives of innocent people from careless drunk drivers. Candy Lightner's devotion and hard work brought her where she is today. Dealing with her own battle associated with her daughter's accident motivated her to create something that changed the number of alcohol related deaths throughout the world. Following up with her interview; "In 1985, Candy was included among Time magazine's "Seven Who Succeeded", and the following year was also elected the YWCA "Woman of the Year" and ranked in the top twenty-five of America's most influential woman by the World Almanac and Book of Facts. Lightner left MADD in 1985 following criticism of her financial management. She is now a frequent speaker at college campuses and on television and radio talk shows." ("Candy Lightner." Encyclopedia) Many people across the world noticed Lightner's humanitarian efforts. She was included in many interviews and now speaks to young adults and inspires others to be courteous about driving. No matter what occasion Lightner helped develope MADD into an international movement during her time. Over the years, her organization gained 2 million members. Her inspiring humanitarian efforts helped save millions of people's lives. "One of Lightner's first successes was persuading Governor Jerry Brown of California to appoint a state commission to study drunk driving. It took months of daily visits to his office, but in the fall of 1980 he finally agreed, and Lightner was appointed as the commission's first member.

By the following year, MADD had grown into five state, twenty-five chapter organization. "We've kicked a few pebbles," Lightner told a Time reporter, "we'll turn a few stones, and eventually we'll start an avalanche." ("Candy Lightner." Contemporary) At first Lightner never expected MADD to become a huge success and save millions of innocent children and adults. However, MADD ended up being a 2 million member organization. Her humanitarian efforts were marvelous, she devoted herself and did everything she could to fix the drunk driving issue around her city. Candy Lightner was extraordinarily strong, brave, and passionate into what she was doing. To bring money into MADD, Lightner quit her job in able to acquire enough savings to really kickoff the organization. She never stopped and dedicated herself into raising awareness on the drunk driving complication.   

Candy Lightner, founder of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), was an inspiration because of her passion for saving lives and her headstrong hard work. Her 2 million member organization changed the number of deaths per year. MADD was so popular, Students Against Drunk Driving was formed by Candy's daughter to fight for the same obstacle. Candy's daughter's tragic encounter with a reckless drunk driver was the most dreadful thing that had ever happened to her. However, she decided to target her grief and anger into fighting against drunk driving. Candy Lightner was a true inspiration to me and others because of her passion, devotion, and humanitarian efforts to save innocent people's lives. She truly inspired me to try and do something powerful during my lifetime. "Death changes us, the living. In the presence of death, we become more aware of life.... It can inspire us to decide what really matters in life--and then to seek it. (Founder of M.A.D.D.)" (Good Reads)