Page 22 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2017

COASTNOTES
For those who have lost friends and loved ones in incidents involving impaired drivers, dealing with that sense of loss can seem insurmountable. In 2007, Bill and Julie Downs were faced with that exact scenario.
After the loss of three of their children due to a vehicular collision involving an impaired and distracted driver, the two were faced with recovering from what no parent should have to face. “After we lost our children, I felt as though I should have been buried alongside them,” said Julie Downs. “I felt like I had nothing left to live for.”
Bill and Julie quickly realized there were no support groups available for people in their situation, though they knew there must be others out there dealing with similar heartache. Together with Candice and Todd Webb, who also lost a child, the group formed Advocates for Victims of Impaired/ Distracted Driving (AVIDD).
With a mission to help others cope with the impact a DUI crash causes through outreach, education and advocacy, they have truly become
a voice for the victims. “We didn’t want the deaths of our children
to be in vain,” Julie Downs said. “We’re doing this for them.”
“We are a group of victims helping victims,” Bill Downs said. “If you have lost a loved one or have been injured in an impaired or distracted driving crash, we
are here for you. If you have
been impacted by these types of crashes, our hope is that you will find comfort and support among our members and through our programs. This is a hard journey to walk alone.”
Today, AVIDD has grown to include four support groups ranging from support for victims of DUI wrecks, distracted driving crashes, and BUI (boating under the influence) incidents. They also provide a court ordered program for impaired and distracted driving offenders in which victims give their testimony in an effort to help prevent further offenses.
“Awareness that impaired/ distracted driving is an issue is
so important,” Julie Downs said. “Though offenders are sentenced to jail time, the victims of these crashes receive a life sentence. Our goal is to be here for the victims and to be the voices of those who can no longer speak for themselves.”
THE DOWNSES ARE CO-AUTHORS of the Grief Diaries books, Loss by Impaired Driving and Shattered, with Lynda Cheldelin Fell, creator and founder of Grief Diaries.
Advocates for Victims of Impaired/Distracted Driving
www.aviddvoiceofthevictims.weebly.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AVIDduivictims | 228.669.7218
22 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • February 2017 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving
OUT
BILL AND JULIE DOWNS
SPEAKING
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photos courtesy of The Downses
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