Media Advisory for MADD 5K Walk, Long Beach, California

Event:                    
On Saturday, September 26, at the Granada Launch Ramp in Long Beach, MADD California will host its annual Move with MADD 5K fundraiser, bringing the community together to confront the growing crisis of impaired driving. California continues to rank among the states with the highest number of impaired driving fatalities, with 1,311 alcohol-impaired driving deaths reported in 2024, accounting for 34% of all traffic fatalities statewide. With impaired driving deaths increasing 22% since 2019, this event serves as a powerful call to action.

Move With MADD unites families, survivors, law enforcement, advocates, and the community at large in a shared mission to honor victims, support survivors, raise awareness, and advance efforts to end impaired driving. Proceeds from the event help fund MADD’s free 24/7 victim services, while every step taken brings us closer to safer roads and a future were impaired driving ends here.

The significance of this walk is especially profound. On September 17, charges were filed against a female driver accused of driving under the influence of drugs in a Chatsworth Metro bus crash that claimed two lives and injured several others. This tragic and 100% preventable tragedy serves as a powerful reminder of why we walk: to honor victims, support survivors, and advance MADD’s mission to end impaired driving. Together, we move closer to a future were impaired driving ends here.

Date:    Saturday, September 26, 2026
6:00 am Media Live Remotes
7:00 am Registration
8:30 am Opening Ceremony
9:00 am Walk Begins

Place:                 
Granada Launch Ramp, 5000 E Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA

Speakers:
Patricia Rillera, MADD California Executive Director
Doug Haubert, Long Beach City Prosecutor
Arnald Hardy, Waymo First Responder Ambassador
Chief Wally Hebeish, Long Beach Police Department
Diane Guerena, MADD Victim Mission Moment B-roll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Oln7U4_10k

2025 B-Roll:         
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zl3FOp-VIU3t-gOq4A-HreV7tXRa8r0Z?usp=drive_link

Visuals:                 
Families impacted by impaired driving will come together with law enforcement and community partners, including the Long Beach City Prosecutor’s Office, Long Beach Police Department, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The event will feature a heartfelt Victim Memory Wall, Waymo vehicles on display, lunch generously provided by the Long Beach Firefighters Association Local 372, fresh-pressed juice from Andreas Healthy Kitchen, face painting, and other family-friendly activities. Community members are invited to walk with purpose, honor those impacted by impaired driving, and make every step count in support of a future free from these preventable tragedies.

MADD California invites the community to take action—register today and join the fight to end impaired driving at Register or donate today:

About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is a national nonprofit leading the movement to end impaired driving for good. MADD’s mission is to end drunk and drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking and other drug use. Since 1980, MADD has helped reduce drunk driving deaths in America by nearly 40%, saved nearly 500,000 lives, and served more than one million victims and survivors. The organization is committed to leading prevention efforts with young adults, collaborating with law enforcement to keep our roads safe from impaired drivers, as well as advocating for stricter sentencing and stronger laws, including the HALT Drunk Driving Law that mandates anti-drunk driving technology in every new car. MADD continues to provide support services to victims and survivors of impaired driving at no charge through victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. For more information or to donate, visit https://madd.org/ and follow MADD on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.