MAMA FIGHTS METH

The old adage, "if mother's not happy, then no one is happy," certainly
strikes a cord with Dr. Mary Holley, who has chartered a new group with the
mission of saving others from the drug that killed her brother.

Jim Blobaum, Holley's youngest brother, tried crystal meth for the first
time when he was 22. Two years later, on July 4, 2002, he was dead from a
self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Although he'd done other drugs - marijuana, speed and other "lesser drugs"
- - crystal meth proved to be the one that held the tightest grip on his life
- - a grip from which he could not break loose.

The shock and anger of losing her brother to this drug motivated Holley to
invest her time, energy and about $200,000 of her own money into forming
Mothers Against Methamphetamine (MAMA) with the hope she could reach others
with information about the drug that destroyed her brother.

"After I got over his death, I started to look into the physiology trying
to learn what this drug is and what it does to the brain," Holley said.

An OB/GYN, who's office is on the campus of Marshall Medical Center North,
Holley began researching crystal meth and other illicit drugs to learn how
they affect the body. A devout Christian, Holley also performed her
research with the knowledge that what she was doing was being done for Christ.

"The Christian community had not had a response to the drug crisis. Jesus
has a lot to say about the drug crisis, and I want to deliver His message,"
she said.

Holley began in late 2001 publishing columns in area newspapers, including
The Sand Mountain Reporter, in which she provided details about crystal
meth and various other drugs.

Those columns, as well as speeches she presented to various groups, all of
which were well-received by the public, became the launching pad for the 10
pamphlets she had printed for MAMA.

The pamphlets, which cover methamphetamine, heroin and pain pills, alcohol
and nicotine, date rape drugs and GHB, inhalants, cocaine, Ecstasy, LSD and
marijuana as well as one titled, "Parents of Prodigals," are available for
free to various businesses, groups and organizations wishing to help
"facilitate an effective Christian drug effort."

In addition to the pamphlets, MAMA also has available three booklets, each
of which is designed to be read by different groups. "Meth Death" is
written at a sixth to eighth grade level, and is designed for placement in
public schools. Although Jesus is not mentioned by name in the booklet, His
presence it obvious to those who seek Him, according to Holley.

"Red Devil Lye" is written on a sixth grade level, but it is meant for
prison inmates. Additionally, "Don't Mess Around With Drugs" is written on
a sixth grade level; however, the booklet, in which a gospel presentation
is included, is designed to be distributed to church youth groups.

Two lengthy books, "Your Brain on Drugs" and "Power Over Addiction," each
of which is 62 pages in length, are also available and go into greater
details about drugs and their affects on the body.

"Our game plan is to get information to the public. We're going to need a
lot of help to do it," Holley said.

As a means of raising funds for MAMA, T-shirts and posters are for sale.
The T-shirts, which are $12, and the posters, which go for $5, were
illustrated by an addict Holley met while presenting drug education
programs to inmates at the Marshall County Correctional Facility.

Holley said the inmate, who struggled with a serious drug addiction, had
been drawing pictures for about three years, but had no way of getting them
out to the masses.

After hearing Holley speak at the jail, the inmate decided she could help
him get his art out to the public. When he was released for jail, Holley
said the man hitch-hiked to her office in Scant City, gave her his drawings
and signed the copyright for them over to her.

He continued to draw pieces for the project until early last summer when he
dropped off Holley's radar. She hasn't seen or heard from him since.

"He had a serious drug problem. He didn't want anybody else to be in jail
because of a drug problem," she said.

Currently, Holley as well as the two women she's employed to handle the
day-to-day operation of MAMA - Penny Watkins of Arab and Rachel Cox of
Guntersville, are seeking retail establishments that will be willing to
carry the T-shirts and posters.

In addition, they are seeking sponsors to pay for five public service
announcements they hope to produce as well as four billboards they want to
erect in Marshall County. Holley said the sponsors will be able to receive
tax credit for their donations and will be recognized for their contributions.

MAMA offices are located behind the Albertville Post Office at 104 W.
Alabama Ave., Suite E. Those seeking information, assistance or literature
to place in their church or business, can visit the office or call
1-866-293-8901. MAMA will follow up with anyone who orders materials.

Holley is also available to speak to various groups; however, she limits
her speaking engagements to twice a week.

When asked what she thinks her brother would think of her activism, Holley
pauses for a moment and then replies, "He would probably think this is
'typical Mary.' That this is the way Mary does things."