Grieving mom planned walk for youth

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

A lost warrior: Vergil Pourier

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Robin Tapio doesn't want another parent to lose a child the way she did.

That's why, on the day her son Vergil Pourier would have turned 17, she's organized a memorial walk/run in his name.

The walk started at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at Billy Mills Hall in Pine Ridge. Participants prayed at the site where Vergil died last summer, then unveil a billboard urging people not to drink and drive.

Speaking about it then:

"I'm hoping that this walk and run will bring an awareness" about the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and not wearing seat belts, Tapio said. "You've got to start somewhere."

Vergil died June 2 in a car accident 5 miles north of Pine Ridge. Vergil, who was driving, had cocaine and marijuana in his system at the time, Tapio said.

Tapio said her son had battled a cocaine addiction since he was 13 and first tried the drug at Geraldine Blue Bird's house. Blue Bird is one of 28 people now serving prison sentences for cocaine trafficking.

"Our kids don't have a chance," Tapio said. "There are coke dealers on every corner."

Full article: http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/01/08/news/local/doc4782e4806fe41446693720.txt

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