MADD Sprint 5K Raises Extra Than $260,000 within the Battle Towards Drunk Driving
Within the ongoing battle in opposition to drunk driving and drugged driving, Moms Towards Drunk Driving (MADD) Southeast Florida hosted its fifteenth Annual UKG & Salah Basis Hero’s Pleasure Transfer with MADD & MADD Sprint Fort Lauderdale 5K Introduced by the Florida Panthers & the Sheriff’s Basis of Broward County on April 26, 2026.
Founder and Honorary Chairperson Heather Geronemus based Transfer With MADD and MADD Sprint Fort Lauderdale 5K after her late father, Dr. Robert Perry Geronemus, was struck and killed by a drunk driver in 2009. In commemoration of its fifteenth anniversary, the annual occasion debuted its rebrand as Transfer With MADD & MADD Sprint Fort Lauderdale 5K, reflecting expanded momentum within the battle in opposition to impaired driving and deepened group engagement.
Hundreds of walkers, runners, strollers, adaptive athletes, canine, and supporters of all ages got here collectively in downtown Fort Lauderdale to take steps to lift consciousness and funds to finish impaired driving for good. The occasion surpassed its fundraising aim, producing greater than $260,000 to avoid wasting lives and assist victims of drunk driving. The proceeds profit MADD Southeast Florida’s group schooling, sufferer assist companies, and youth prevention packages. Each greenback donated stays in South Florida to offer sufferer companies and prevention schooling for gratis.
The annual fundraising occasion was attended by native dignitaries, together with Colonel Steve Robson, Undersheriff of Broward Sheriff’s Workplace; Sgt. Ryan Clifton from Broward Sheriff’s Workplace; Sgt. Trevor Thomas from Fort Lauderdale Police Division’s DUI Unit; Lt. Indiana Miranda from Florida Freeway Patrol; Broward County District 3 Commissioner Michael Udine; and Fort Lauderdale District 3 Commissioner Vice Mayor Ben Sorensen.
“Once I began this occasion in 2011, after shedding my father, Dr. Robert Geronemus, to a drunk driver, I made a promise that I’d do all the things in my energy to assist forestall one other household from experiencing that sort of loss,” stated Geronemus. “What started as grief grew to become motion. What started as ache grew to become function. And what started as my household’s tragedy grew to become a motion that every attendee has been part of for 15 years.”
“That’s the reason the identify of this occasion issues. Transfer With MADD & MADD Sprint Fort Lauderdale 5K displays precisely who we’re and what this group has finished for 15 years: we transfer. We transfer hearts. We transfer individuals to motion. We transfer communities to care. And we transfer this battle ahead. I’m extremely grateful to our sponsors, volunteers, occasion committee, ambassadors, public security companions, and the MADD workforce for making this present day doable and for standing beside all of the households like mine on this battle in opposition to impaired driving. Collectively, we are able to construct a future with no extra victims,” she continued.
Transfer With MADD & MADD Sprint Fort Lauderdale 5K is a community-driven 5K that raises consciousness about drunk and drugged driving and underage ingesting whereas uniting group members round MADD’s mission. Because it was established in 2011, Transfer With MADD & MADD Sprint Fort Lauderdale 5K has raised greater than $4.5 million.
MADD is dedicated to main prevention efforts with younger adults, collaborating with legislation enforcement to maintain roads protected from impaired drivers, in addition to advocating for stricter sentencing and stronger legal guidelines, together with the HALT Legislation that mandates anti-drunk driving know-how in each new automobile. MADD continues to offer assist companies to victims and survivors of impaired driving at no cost by means of sufferer companies specialists and the 24-Hour Sufferer Assist Line.
