MADD raises awareness with annual fundraising walk

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Hundreds of people walked Saturday to support efforts to end drunk driving. Mothers Against Drunk Driving held its annual fundraising walk in person for the first time since the pandemic started.

Hundreds of people – young and old – took part in the 13th annual Walk Like MADD fundraising event at UNM Saturday morning.

"It’s just amazing, it’s wonderful to see this support in the community,” said Dolly Salazar. Her son Jacob was killed by a drunk driver in 2016. The 19-year-old was a student athlete at UNM.

"His goal was to be a mechanical engineer with the hopes of eventually probably working for the FBI. He successfully completed his first semester at UNM before he was killed in January by a drunk driver, and it’s something no parent should have to go through. As parents, we should not have had to bury our son,” said Salazar.

All the funds raised from Saturday’s walk go to support MADD’s efforts to end drunk driving. In New Mexico, 145 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes last year.

MADD’s Regional Executive Director Lindsey Valdez said the pandemic did not stop drunk driving crashes.

"Of course we experienced bars, restaurants, all businesses being closed but that didn’t stop people from driving on the roadways, so we certainly saw an uptick in especially high-speed crashes and crashes involving alcohol or drugs,” said Valdez.

That’s why they said their message is so important – but also simple. Don’t drink and drive.

"Plan. Make a plan. Stop and think. There are so many resources right now with Uber and Lyft there’s no reason for anyone to have to get into a vehicle if they’ve been drinking or into a vehicle with someone who has been drinking,” Salazar said.