MADD or Mothers Against Drunk Driving held Kern County’s 10th annual Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash event at the Riverwalk Park on Saturday Sept. 23.

Hundreds of participants walked to spread awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence. “We walk for those who no longer can and those that are learning to walk again,” explained Georgina Avilez, MADD Program Director for Southern California.

Kern County experiences nearly 4,000 DUIs each year. In 2022, 50 people were killed in DUI related crashes in Kern, according to MADD.

“This is an opportunity for the community to come together, survivors, law enforcement, community members…to be able to raise those funds in order for MADD to provide free services,” Avilez continued.  “We turn their pain into a purpose so they can share their voice to the community.”

This year’s walk event raised slightly over $58,000 to help local families of victims in Kern County affected by DUI crashes and to help support MADD Kern County intervention programs.

Walk Like MADD & MADD Dash was sponsored by Chain Cohn Clark and Valley Strong Credit Union.