Walk Like MADD ... Together We'll Eliminate Drunk Driving

DENVER, Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) held its fifth annual Walk Like MADD 5k event to raise awareness and funds to eliminate drunk driving and support victim/survivors of alcohol-related crashes in Colorado. Over 1500 attendees participated in this year's walk in Denver to rally support for MADD's lifesaving mission and the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.

The Walk Like MADD course circled Sloan's Lake Park and featured a Health & Safety Fair, Pooch Parlor, demonstrations by the Ruff Flyball Dog Club, bicycle safety village, the John Gallery Race Car, and an AirLife Denver helicopter. Walk Like MADD was locally presented by American Family Insurance and also sponsored by Bachus & Schanker, King Soopers, and Jay's Valet.

Peter and Liane VonFeldt walked in honor of their daughter Jennifer Kois and her boyfriend Jacob Brock, both Mesa State University students when they were tragically killed by a drunk driver in March 2007. "MADD has been a huge support to our families and friends," said Peter and Liane. "The bad choice to drink and then drive could force another family to go through the horror and the pain of losing their loved one like our family had to go through. Don't Drink and Drive!"

American Family Insurance was the proud Presenting Sponsor for the Denver Walk Like MADD. "At American Family Insurance, we see the impact of drunk driving every day," said George Saponas, Sales Director. "The injuries and loss of life are absolute tragedies. We also see the financial cost to individuals and families who are impacted by a crash. Walk Like MADD allows us to be a part of MADD's vital mission to keep our roads safe and to support victims of drunk driving crashes."

In addition to the emotional toll these preventable deaths and injuries take on victim/survivors, there is a fiscal impact to our society. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that alcohol-related crashes cost the public over $100 billion in the United States annually; people other than the drinking driver pay 63% of the alcohol-related crash bill.

For nearly 30 years, MADD has helped save over 330,000 lives—still people continue to die and be injured by this violent crime.  According to NHTSA, 11,773 people in the United States and 173 in Colorado were killed in crashes involving a driver at or above .08 BAC in 2008. Nationally, one person is injured in an alcohol-related crash every minute.

All funds donated to the Denver Walk Like MADD event stay in Colorado for MADD's programs and services. There is still time to support MADD Colorado's Walk Like MADD!

To donate, visit www.walklikemadd.org. For more information, visit www.madd.org or call (800) GET-MADD. Victims/survivors of drunk driving can call 1-877-MADD-HELP 24 hours, seven days a week, for victim services at no charge.    

SOURCE Mothers Against Drunk Driving Colorado