October to December 2007 Pledges
December 16, 2007
Very nice. Mariah's Family is very touched by this web site.
Thank you all.
Leo, Janice and Jenna.
December 17, 2007
This project takes on increasing importance, especially this time of year. The Sullivan's pledge their support to the McCarthy family in everyway possible.
December 17, 2007
Mariah's Challenge can only have a positive effect on the youth in Butte. In time it will hopefully become a statewide challenge.
December 17, 2007
We couldn't be more proud to be a part of such a positive win-win challenge! We look forward to honoring Mariah by doing our part as parents and helping our children make better choices and showing them through example, that drinking and driving are never for winners!!
Much love and prayers to Leo Janice, and Jenna
December 17, 2007
Leo, I never met Mariah. This is a great challenge.
December 17, 2007
I have accepted Mariah's Challenge and will do everything I can to promote this very worthwhile cause.
December 17, 2007
Leo,
What a wonderful way to celebrate and remember your daughter. She was fortunate to have a dad like you. We continue to pray for you and your family.
December 17, 2007
I love this! After hearing you speak at the funeral (Leo), I vowed never again to even have one drink and drive...no matter how far I have to drive. I will live to be an example to my own two children as well as all who know me. I willingly accept Mariah's Challenge and am so very proud of all who do!
December 17, 2007
This is such an awesome project. If there is anything I can do to help- please count me in.
December 17, 2007
As I look @ Mariah's picture on my desk our pledge to her is to help spread the message to my community and other communities throughout Montana.
December 18, 2007
We LOVE you Guys, and are very proud of all your hard work getting out this most important message and challenge to our kids!!! We are BUTTE TUFF!
December 18, 2007
What the community is doing is amazing! Keep up the good work! Mariah is looking down at everyone and smiling!
December 19, 2007
I accept Mariah's Challenge. i will always keep Mariah with me in everything i do and in my heart.
December 19, 2007
I accept Mariah's Challenge. She was a great cousin,
and my best friend. We all miss her, she loves us all.
December 19, 2007
Mariah was my loving cousin and she would be proud to see her friends, family members, and many others participating in Mariah's Challenge...
December 19, 2007
I accept mariahs challenge. Mariah was an amazing person and is deeply missed by this whole community. Mariah would be proud to see the difference she has made.
December 20, 2007
To all who have been touched by Mariah, we know she is watching over us and guiding us in this challenge. We are so very blessed to have had her in our lives.
Love to all,
Bob, Karen, Jessica, and Nicole Bennie
December 20, 2007
I accept Mariah's Challenge. I will never drink and drive and will pass the challenge on to everyone I know!
December 20, 2007
I accept this challenge and will never drink and drive. I will let everyone i know and love about this. allways in my prayers.
December 20, 2007
I haven't drank in a long time, but I also accept Mariah's challenge. She was a beautiful girl. The great things that are being done in her memory are wonderful. If i can help in any way please let me know. The Mcarthy family is an amazing family they have great strength and they are forever in my prayers.
December 20, 2007
Mariah was a touching person! She was always smiling and having fun. She was an amazing person and she will NEVER be forgotten! I want to say sorry to Leo, Janice, and Jenna! The loss was a horrible thing to go through. I'm really happy to see you guys staying strong! May Mariah Forever Rest In Peace. I Accept Mariah's Challenge.
Love you Mariah and Forever Will You Be Remembered!
December 21, 2007
What a beautiful website. I cried reading Mariah's story. As a parent of four, I applaud your work and I hope it can someday offset your trememdous grief. God bless you and Mariah.
December 27, 2007
This is a wonderful project. We will do whatever we can to help spread the word. If there is anything we can do please let us know. The McCarthy family is in our prayers.
The Tim and Helen McKeon family.
December 27, 2007
Dear Mariah's Challenge group, and Dear McCarthy Family,
First of all, my deepest condolences for the loss of Mariah. I think this challenge is long overdue in the Butte community. I tried a few years ago to start a chapter of "Mothers Against Drunk Drivers" "MADD". It required a board of directors of 12 people. I could not get 3 people from this town to commit to this cause. It was heartbreaking for me and I gave up on the idea. I am a devoted, passionate member of Al-Anon. I attend weekly meetings and three weekends per month, on Saturday mornings, I am at MCDC, "Montana Chemical Dependency Center" to host an Al-Anon meeting for the family members of patients there. As a volunteer, I also once per month lecture at the MCDC community, including the patients, and families on alcohol and drug recovery. I believe in this cause whole heartedly!! NO ONE should have to face the loss of a loved one because of a drunk driver. There is just no reason for it and it is inexcusable. All we have to do is be responsible for those times when we do drink. That is all it takes, to think ahead and prepare to save those innocent lives.
So I offer my support. I would love to help in any way I can. I will donate my time and assistance in any I have had a lifetime of experience with this stuff and will bring all of what I know to help this program succeed!! Thank you all for finally taking a stand and being willing to address this horrible grip on our beloved community... I am with you all the way! Will Call and give my phone numbers so I cam be reached for support...
God's Love to all involved!!!
December 27, 2007
I had a rough time with alcohol myself. I have a recording studio in Butte. I would be glad and honored to record a song for this website free of charge if we could have some young musicians write and perform a song. Let me know, and best of luck.
December 27, 2007
Responsibility, courage, and diligence are three words that come to my mind as I read the article in The Montana Standard. As a teacher at Butte High School, I will remind students of these words on a regular basis. I will accept Mariah's challenge and will continue to educate students to make the right choice when encountered with "tough" decisions.
December 27, 2007
Our kids learn from example. How many holiday parties did you attend where people 'only had a few' and got behind the wheel? Some of these adults lecturing the whole night about how the kids of this community have to be more responsible. Adults need to be role models. We need to find alternatives to drinking for entertainment.
December 27, 2007
You have my support! We all need to be more responsible. The ol' Butte tradition needs to stop. The hard living, whiskey drinking, mining days are over. IT IS TIME FOR A HEALTHY CHANGE!
December 27, 2007
As a child of an alcoholic father, I many times with my siblings rode in our car while my dad had been drinking. I am a lucky one I didn't choose to follow in that step, I will teach my children and as many as I can to take this challenge and lead a life of choices that we can be proud of.
December 27, 2007
It's about time Butte residents put their feet down and break the chains of alcohol and drug abuse. You have my full support.
December 27, 2007
There was once a saying that I thought of a few years back. It is "Don't drink and drive. Auto makers aren't the only ones that can recall what they make, God also can". This is such a sad thing to happen and I pray for all families that are involved. I wouln't know what to do if this were to happen to my child. You are a strong man Leo.
December 27, 2007
If there is anything I can do to help please just let us know
December 27, 2007
Mariah was a wonder person and is deeply missed i accept Mairiahs challenge and will not drink and drive
December 27, 2007
I am fairly new to butte still, but have followed this story closely. I have lost people close to me because of drinking and driving and vowed that i would not be one of those people. I accept mariah's challenge and hope that everyone who finds this page do as well. May god bless and be with all of you!!
December 27, 2007
December 27, 2007
I really hope this makes a difference in the butte comunnity cause people need to know that butte is more than a drunk town and think this will help
December 27, 2007
I support everything that this site is trying to do. The value of change is important in the future of our youth.
December 27, 2007
I accept Mariah's Challenge. Mariah will always be watching over us and she will NEVER be forgotten.
December 27, 2007
TEARS
Tears of depression,
Tears of pain,
Tears stream down my face,
In the lightly drizzling rain.
Tears of sadness,
Tears born of rage,
Another loved one leaves us,
Way too early in age.
Tears upon the greening grass,
Tears on your casket as well,
Tears that soak into the ground,
Tears that tell a tale.
Tears as salty as the sea,
Tears we all have cried,
Tears for all the world to see,
Tears we need not hide.
These tears I've never hidden,
Cause they are forever true,
These tears are falling down my face,
Because I'm missing you.
I dedicated this to a friend of mine that was taken from us because of drinking and driving as well. I wanted to add it here to honor Mariah as well.
December 28, 2007
I accept Mariah's Challenge. She will be forever missed, and will always make a difference!
December 28, 2007
I am a native of Butte. I grew up in this town and have watched many of our sons and daughters die from the affects of alcohol. For many years, we all have said "something needs to be done". Well, now is the time. I enjoy having a glass of wine with dinner, or a drink at a wedding reception. I have 3 children ages 17, 14, & 11. I am going to propose this agreement with them - for the remainder of their school years, there will be no alcohol consumed by anyone in our family - not at a friend's wedding or on new year's eve, not on my birthday or any other holiday (yes, st patty's day and evil knevil days included) Hopefully, they will see that making good choices is important to me and needs to be for them as well. This means even when they are not around! So, I challenge every parent in this town to do the same. Hopefully, together we can prevent another tragedy like Mariah's from happening.
December 28, 2007
I accept Mariah's challenge.
December 28, 2007
Parents please, take a good-look at the precious child, the gift from God that you were blessed with. Please get involved in the Art community, get involved in your childs interests, for the well being of their future, please take the time to put their needs first. They need to be respected, loved and listened to, they need you to be there to teach them right from wrong. YOU are their role model, be the best you can be for the sake of the children and your grandchildren.
December 28, 2007
No parent should have to suffer the lose and the agony in losing a child. I feel your pain and my heart reaches out to you in comfort and peace. I too lost a son to alcoholism and 3 years later i lost his twin brother matthew and mikel mcdaniel,to alcoholism use and abuse. Alcohol is the deadly drug that continually kills alot of family. It is definitely time to make some changes for the better. Time for all parents to step up and become better role models. Put down the drinking and involve yourself in your childrens happier and healthier future.
December 28, 2007
Sending a song of grief to feed hearts emptying tears into that river which carries the sweet soul of your loved one across to the other side.
December 28, 2007
Dear Leo, Janice, and Jenna,
I was a card carrying member of the drinking culture in Butte. By God's grace I did not hurt anyone, or myself during my drinking days. I love Butte, and her people,but it is a community that has suffered much under the grip of alcohol and it's effect. I pray that your efforts bring real change to a wonderful community.
I support Mariah's Challenge whole-heartedly. Your grace and courage are an inspiration to me. All three of you are my heroes. God Bless you all
December 28, 2007
our thoughts and prayers to Mariah's family
December 28, 2007
THAT'S THE SADDIEST STORY I EVER READ..I'AM SO SORRY..
December 28, 2007
I ACCEPT MARIAH'S CHALLENGE
December 29, 2007
I'm so sorry and I accept Mariahs challenge.
December 29, 2007
omg i am so sorry that is the saddest thing i have ever heard and i accept mariah's challenge
-CaMeRoN-
December 30, 2007
December 30, 2007
This challenge is an awesome thing for our community to participate in. The drinking tradition in Butte needs to stop and I am more than happy to participate in this challenge. I accept Mariah's Challenge! She will always be in my heart. Mariah will forever be missed but never forgotten.
December 30, 2007
As the parents of ten beautiful children, we cannot begin to imagine the pain and agony of losing a child. Mariah, her 2 friends and their families have been in our thoughts a prayers since this tragic event. We are proud to accept Mariah's Challenge without a second thought. Our continued prayers for all three families, Butte's children, all children.
December 31, 2007
What a beautiful website. We think of you often, being Valerie's cousin and dealing with the pain all too closely and think this website is a great memory of Mariah!
December 31, 2007