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'Walk Like MADD' In Sparkill To Stop Drunk Driving, Remember Local Student

CLARKSTOWN, N.Y. -- One local mother lost her daughter to drunk driving last May. Now she's inviting people to "Walk Like MADD" on Saturday, Oct. 1, in Sparkill to help wipe out drunk driving.

Larisa Karassik's mother helps remember her and works to stamp out drunk driving by participating in such events.

Larisa Karassik's mother helps remember her and works to stamp out drunk driving by participating in such events.

Photo Credit: Larisa Karassik Foundation Facebook

The Rockland Walk Like MADD event is one of over 60 Walk Like MADD events across the country this year.

One local team is "Team Larisa," formed by Anastasia "Tasia" Karassik, whose 13-year-old daughter, Larisa, was killed by a drunk driver last spring.

"(Larisa) never came home from getting ice-cream that sunny Memorial Day weekend," Karassik said on her team page for the event.

"Larisa returned in a casket and was buried in the cemetery one day before her eighth-grade school dance. She ended up being buried in her new shoes that she planned on wearing to the school dance."

Anastasia Karassik has turned the tragedy into proactivity, however. In addition to participating in events like this, she formed the Larisa Karassik Foundation to also raise awareness and help other families.

"It is our goal to continue Larisa's legacy by reaching out and helping other families who have similarly lost a beloved child and whose lives have been shattered by drunk and drugged driving," Karassik continued. "We are on a mission to create awareness to stop drunk driving and save other innocent lives from being lost."

You can walk with Team Larisa by registering here, or donate to the team directly here. The team had raised 77 percent of its goal as of Monday night.

You can also register individually or form your own team here or donate directly to the event here. As of Monday night, the local event had raised 81 percent of its goal.

Online registration for Rockland Walk Like MADD ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30, but you can register on the day of the walk as well, until 10 a.m.

Registration begins Saturday at 8:30 a.m., in the Romano Student Center of St.Thomas Aquinas College, 125 NY-340. The opening ceremony is at 10 a.m. and the walk begins at 10:30 a.m.

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