WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) — A comedy show fundraiser was held Saturday night in honor of Matt Dennison, a West Warwick teen who was seriously injured in a crash by an alleged drunk driver in February, and later died.
The event, called “‘Clap Back with Matt”, was put on by his sister, Katie, and close friend, Kevin MacDonald.
MacDonald was in the car with Dennison the night of the crash, and was also injured.
“I’m stable enough to talk about this and raise awareness to it, and there’s got to be someone to do it at some point,” MacDonald told 12 News.
“We don’t want to have another person like me,” he added.
Justin Lake, MacDonald’s hockey coach, says MacDonald has been nothing short of an inspiration during his recovery.
“He realizes he’s the lucky one that survived, and he’s the one that’s going to have to go in front of the House of Representatives and senators, and be the voice for these individuals that can’t,” Lake said.
“He was in the accident, he felt the feeling. He held Matt’s hand as it was going down,” he added.
All of the proceeds from Saturday night’s event will go to the Dennison family.
