On a Mission to Eliminate Drunk Driving in Honor of Three Young People Whose Lives Were Stolen

On October 6, 2007 Bill and Julie Downs’ son, Brad, new daughter-in-law Samantha and the newlyweds’ best friend Chris Dafoe were killed by a drunk driver just outside of Gulfport, Mississippi. One year later, a sobriety checkpoint in their honor has just been held at the crash site, to support MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.

“MADD’s Chat Support Group is the only thing that gets us through the week,” says Bill. “Chat has kept us alive.’ He and Julie join MADD’s online chat every Monday and Thursday evening. “Getting out there and talking about what happened to our children has become the utmost therapy for me,” he says. “Chat is the best thing MADD has done.”

Read more of the Downs' story and about their mission to eliminate drunk driving.