Race set to honor local victims of drunk driving

Statistics from prominent website Alcohol Alert show that more than 10,000 people die each year from alcohol-related vehicle accidents.

Sons, daughters, parents, grandparents, friends, neighbors, all lost because of a single bad decision by someone to get behind the wheel of a car after having too much to drink.

The families of two local victims are hoping to shrink that struggle this month by bringing the message of awareness to the Tri-parishes.

The first Raymond Bourg and Lindsey Fontenot Memorial Run/Walk takes place on June 25 at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center.

The race seeks to raise awareness toward the cause, while also honoring the lives of the two Tri-parish natives, who were killed on July 2, 2010, by a drunk driver who was two times above the legal limit.

“This is something that we’d like to use as an education tool. When you’re able to put a face to the cause, it rings true to a large amount of people,” said Alicia Toups, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council for South Louisiana (ADAC) executive director. “These young men were welcomed and were friends with many, many people and we’re doing this in their memory and in their honor, along with their families and in support of their families and friends, because they were two men that had their full lives ahead of them.”

The approximately 10,000 casualties a year are a flat and unbending number. But Toups said the fight against drunk driving stretches beyond a concrete digit.

She said one of the biggest messages ADAC tries to send when promoting awareness is that the people killed aren’t the only people impacted in crashes. She said each individual person might have five, 10, 15, or more people who see their lives be adversely impacted when a loved one is killed.

“Take Lindsey, for example,” Toups said. “Lindsey was engaged to Jessica Toms. The ripple effect of the loss of these lives is tremendous, because it impacted her, too, because all of her future plans were turned upside down that day as well. It’s not just the victims who are impacted when these things happen.”

That race will show in part how deep the ripples extend for Bourg and Fontenot.

Liz Bourg, mother of Raymond Bourg, said thousands of people turned out for her son’s funeral and she expects a similar turnout at the memorial event.

“It’s going to be in the thousands, I have to think,” the mother said. “We’re going to have a lot of people who are going to be there. We’re expecting a big crowd.”

Proceeds for the race will go to ADAC, which in turn will dedicate memorial scholarships in the names of both Bourg and Fontenot.

The event will begin at 7 a.m. with registration and a one-mile kid’s fun run, which will give way to the two-mile run/walk, which will begin around 8.

The cost of entry is $20 per person for anyone who signs up after June 1. Companies are also encouraged to make donations if possible.

To take part in the race, anyone interested is asked to visit ADAC’s website or call them at (985) 879-2273 to receive a registration form.

Toups said she encourages anyone on the fence about taking part to come out and have fun for a good cause.

“This is shaping up to be a pretty cool event,” she said. “I must say, I’m pretty proud of this one.”

Once the race gets done, the fun for the day is just getting started, as music will fill the air and several family activities will take place that will keep both adults and the kiddies occupied throughout the day.

Prizes will be handed out in numerous raffle drawings that will take place at the event. Those raffle gifts will be sure to steal the show and make anyone who holds the lucky ticket proud.

“We have a tremendous list of prizes on our raffle ticket,” Toups said. “Anyone who goes home a winner will surely be very happy.”

If this one lesson is learned and one life is saved, its mission accomplished for the event and its sponsors.

“That’s the goal,” Liz Bourg said. “To try and have a good time, while educating people. If we can prevent just one accident from happening, then it was worth it.”

The Raymond Bourg & Lindsey Fontenot Memorial Run/Walk

Where: Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center

When: Saturday, June 25 @ 7 a.m.

Cost: $20 per registration

For More Info: (985) 879-2273 or visit www.adacsl.org