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In Memory of Cari


September 5, 1966, to May 3, 1980


Hello Candace,


As much as I would like to skip this date, I cannot. It comes every year and through the years the grief does not just start and end on this date, it often starts sooner and never ends.

Years ago. I started writing about how Cari lived vs how she died but this time I would like to talk about what her death created.

Cari was killed on May 3rd and on May 7th I started what was the most impactful, passionate grass roots organization of its kind filled with volunteers who finally had someplace to go after their loved ones were killed by an impaired driver. At that time 25,000 people were killed in alcohol related crashes annually.

After my first press conference within months of her death, I started receiving calls from around the country. The first woman wanted me to know that her son was killed by a drunk driver. Her husband was a cinematographer for Highway to Heaven. She wanted to know if she could start a chapter. Although I had been advised that chapters would be good, I had not thought that far ahead. However, it took me two seconds to say yes. Her son’s killer was sentenced to incarceration. As far as we could tell, that was a first and she always said it was because of our involvement. Click to learn more.

If you would like to donate to We Save Lives in memory of my daughter, Cari you can do it here.


Click to donate.



Thank you for caring,


Candace Lightner,

Founder, We Save Lives

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