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4 - PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, May 24, 2000 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" A grieving mother's message Connie Heron tells students how her daughter's death devastated a family By Heather McCrae Port Perry Star Drinking and driving kills. Nobody can attest to that fact better than Connie Heron, a mother who lost her only daughter, Amanda, in a drinking and driving accident on June 7, 1998. Only 18 years old, Amanda died after trying - but failing - to stop her brother's inebriated girlfriend from taking off in a vehicle at high speeds. = Amanda was thrown from the car, killed instantly, while the driver escaped with a few cuts and bruises. The driver was charged, but died in a plane crash-before going to trial. Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death among teens in Canada. In North America each year, 44,000 fatal acci- dents occur, and more 40 per cent are alcohol related. Despite growing public awareness, one quarter of all deaths on Ontario roads still result from collisions involving an impaired driver - some 230 lives lost each year. Because of the high incidence of alco- hol-related accidents Mrs. Heron, her hus- band, Peter, and their son, Brock, took part in the making of a video initiated by the Durham Regional Police. Made by students from Henry Street High School, Anderson Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Sinclair Secondary School and Father Leo |. Austin Catholic Secondary School, the 15-minute video "Tragic Memories" has earned several awards. Tragic Memories was made in May of 1999, in time for the prom and gradua- tion season. It has been shown to high schools, town councils and service clubs throughout Durham Region and beyond. Mrs. Heron heard the video was seen recently in a Sudbury high school. In the video the Herons tell about the family's devastation after Amanda's eath. Another family also tells its story: [The parents of Jennifer Crook, a teenag- er who was killed just two weeks before the video was made, share the pain of their loss, too. "Jennifer was in an inebriated state when she was struck by a vehicle as she ERLE maids, on A -- TS . rs a my, WEEN NA wr XE 2 fpr, £ Connie Heron with a picture of her daughter, Amanda, who died in an accident in 1998. The 18-year-old was a passenger in a car being driven by a friend who had been drinking. Mrs. Heron now tells high school stu- dents of the agony the accident caused her and her family. attempted to walk across Taunton Rd.," Const. Gill Lock says. "Her reckless behaviour cost her her life." Because the video is still relatively new, many students recognize both young women and their families. "It's a high impact video," said Const.Lock. "I've seen it 10 times or more, and it still makes me well up every time." "We knew we had to take part in this project," said Mrs. Heron. "If we can save another child or another family from suffering what we have been through, then it's been worth it. "Amanda was responsible. She was the least likely kid to be killed in such a way. We do reach people, and when they see the video they are in tears." While Tragic Memories has been viewed at several high schools, Mrs. Heron has also been a guest speaker at student assemblies. Last month she spoke at St. Mary Catholic Secondary School in Pickering, and she and Brock took part in an anti-drinking and driving forum held at .the Brampton Sports Centre on May ||. More than 5,000 stu- dents from 45 high schools in the GTA attended the huge rally. "Those students thought they were going to enjoy a day from classes and have a bit of fun, but they walked out of that building stone-faced," said Mrs. Heron. "They saw the devastation." Others recounting their stories were a 22-year-old man who has been left a paraplegic since rolling a friend's vehicle 'after having a few drinks. Another woman, also 22, spoke about how she killed her sister and a friend, all because she was drunk while behind the wheel. And another mother showed a video on how her vibrant 18-year-old son became semi-comatose after suffer- .ing a serious brain injury in an October 1997 drunk-driving crash in which he was a passenger. At Sinclair Secondary School, where Tragic Memories was first shown a year ago, even the boys had a hard time hold- ing it together, Mrs. Heron says. Life has not been the same for the Herons since Amanda's untimely death in 1998. "I used to always tell her that if any- thing ever happened to her | would die," Mrs. Heron recalls. "I did die, but not a complete death that will put me out of the agonizing pain | feel every day. Since Amanda's death it's been a struggle to be the wife and the mother | once was. "Amanda was a spark in my life. Gentle, kind and caring, she never gave us any trouble. She had a huge smile people never forget. She was a joy. She was the best. It's been almost two years since she died but the pain never goes away." Next month Mrs. Heron will be speak- ing at Eastdale Collegiate in a campaign sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. Mrs. Heron feels every parent of a teenager should see this video. If any- one wishes to borrow a copy of Tragic Memories they can contact her at either of her two stores, Wysteria's Ways in Port Perry (985-1598) or the Brooklin Village Shoppe (655-3474). To obtain a copy of Tragic Memories, contact Inspector Greg Reid at the Durham Regional Police headquarters, 579-1520, extension 1844. 3 By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star options for their clientele. dining at restaurants. Four Port Perry eateries have been recognized by Durham Region's health department for offering healthy The honours were announced recently during the launch of the region's Eat Smart program. It's part of a provincial initiative, designed to encourage healthier . Eat Smart replaces the region's Lifestyle Approved , Awards, which were given out between 1994 and 1999. Partners in the new program include the health depart- . ment, the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation, and the Region hands out four awards in Port Perry Canadian Cancer Society. Recipients in Port Perry were: 0 Mr. Submarine, at 1874 Scugog St. a Subway Sandwiches, 40 Water St. a The Front Porch, 187 Queen St., and a Lakeridge Health Corp., at the Port Perry hospital on Paxton St. Recipients were recognized for offering a variety of healthier food choices, both on the menu and upon cus- tomer request, and for providing more non-smoking seating than required by law. Having kitchen staff certi- fied in safe food handling was another factor. Restaurants recognized for offering diners healthy options In all, 35 restaurants across the region were chosen to receive the Eat Smart designation, said public health inspector Laura Berger. "We're very pleased to be recognizing these Durham Region restaurants with this new program," she said. "The criteria for an Eat Smart designation is more strict than those for the former Lifestyle Awards pro- gram, so having 35 restaurants qualify in the first year is outstanding." For more information on the Eat Smart program, you can call the health department at 723-8521, or 1-800- 841-2729, ext. 2188.