MADD honours lives impacted by drunk driving

Photo: Sarita Patel

Emcee Scott Chamber on stage as Eva Gainer lights a candle to honour her late husband, Don and son, Bryan.

The MADD Central Okanagan chapter held a candlelight vigil at Kelowna's Parkinson Recreation Centre on Sunday to honour the memory of lives lost and affected by impaired drivers.  

"One of MADD’s primary mandates is to support the victims of impaired driving, and the vigil is the local community’s way of reaching out to the victims ... to come to get together so that we can remember their loved one that was either injured or killed and take a moment to remember them,” says MADD's Scott Chambers. 

It was an intimate affair where victims of drunk drivers were able to light a candle in memory of those who are no longer with them. Eva Gainer, a victim services volunteer with MADD, shared her loss. 

“On July 23 of 2000, a drunk driver hit our family van. The results were my husband, Don, and our young son Bryan, our third child - who was not quite 12 years old, were killed in that crash. I was critically injured and taken to St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and spent six weeks recovering. I would say I was a reluctant survivor knowing that Don and Bryan had died."

Not only was her life changed forever but a family friend, Cathy Millson, was also in the vehicle and is now left partially paralyzed. 

RCMP Const. Leslie Smith spoke about the importance of educating the next generation of drivers.

"We’ve seen far too many youths make the wrong decision, and as a result they are no longer with us. It affects the family, it affects the community, it affects the school – so if we can be there to educate them in any sense that we can, and our new drivers, and ensure that they know their responsibilities of becoming a new driver." 

Gainer's message is simple: "To encourage people to become aware to make those important decisions not to drive impaired before you go out to party."