The Oakville teenager, who recovered from a severe brain injury, helped launch MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Halton’s Red Ribbon campaign last Friday.

The campaign, which kicked off at the Halton Regional Police station in Burlington, aims for a holiday season with no deaths or injuries caused by impaired driving.

“By displaying a MADD Canada red ribbon, you’ll make a personal commitment to drive sober,” said Chris Borak, president of Halton’s MADD branch.

“We urge Canadians to call 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver. By removing a drunk driver from the road, you may be saving a life.”

Before cutting the kick-off ribbon with her son, Tiberia recalled the trauma an accident December 30, 1994 caused her family.

“From the second it happened almost 14 years ago, the choice one person made to drink and drive forever altered the path of our lives,” said the Oakville resident.

“My son suffered a severe brain injury at age 3 and for 16 days was in a coma fighting for his life. He had to change and adapt and fight for his life. He’s the bravest person I know.”

Raymond was seriously injured when the family car collided with another vehicle in Erie, Pa. They were in the area visiting Tiberia’s relatives.

She said her family’s dreams were rewritten and her daughter Erica suffered because Raymond’s needs became so great.

“It was a pretty horrific accident. We’ve had trauma for years and we will never recover.”

The other motorist involved was convicted of impaired driving and served six years in prison before being paroled.

Tiberia said Raymond has trouble retaining very much information. Now 17, he’s a Grade 11 student at Chisholm Academy, a private school in Oakville, which, “allows for individual learning in small classes.”

Raymond remembers nothing about the mishap that nearly cost his life.

“Now it makes me wonder what would have been if I was not in the car accident,” he said. “I had to relearn everything.”

The teen is doing a co-op placement in the parts department at Towne Chev-Olds in Oakville. He has no definite career plans yet.

Halton police Chief Gary Crowell said the annual MADD campaign is needed to make everyone understand that drinking and driving is still a concern.

He noted there have been more than 200 drinking and driving related charges and four deaths so far in 2008. Last year there were fewer than 200 charges and eight deaths.