On September 20, 2019, Brent, Dana, Brena, Jean’, and Bella Bourgeois were traveling to Baton Rouge for the weekend. They would not get to their destination.  They were involved in a crash caused by a drunk driver, and they were all injured.  Brent, Brena, Bella, and Jean would survive their injuries. On October 2, Dana would succumb to hers.

To know Dana was to love her. She loved her family and friends and would go to the ends of the earth to be there for them when they needed her. Because of one person’s selfish decision to drink and drive, everyone lost. We lost a wife, mother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, and a friend. The community lost a school volunteer, church volunteer, and a caring nurse.

We walk in memory of Dana and all of the victims who lost their lives to the senseless act of driving impaired. We also walk in honor of Brent, Brena, Bella and Jean’ and all survivors of impaired driving.

IN MEMORY OF KATRINA CHERAMIE

We will be walking in memory of Katrina Cheramie as well. Katrina was an absolute joy to work with as part of our MADD Louisiana team. She reached out to us after the senseless death of her sister-in-law and best friend Dana to a drunk driver. Katrina helped initiate and lead the planning for our upcoming Down Da Bayou Walk Like MADD event and was eager to spread awareness about the dangers of impaired driving in her community. 

She was selfless, kind, hard-working, and hilarious. Katrina loved her family so much and talked about them often. She kept us entertained talking about the amazing deals she got while penny shopping at the dollar store.

Katrina made this world a better place. Although we were only blessed to know her for a little more than a year, she made a lifetime of impact on us. She will live on in our hearts and we will always remember her.