Women dominate drink-drive vow
Olympic swimmer Blair Evans does not accept the excuse that drink-driving is part of Australian culture.
Evans is among the big contingent of women who have vowed not to drink and drive as part of the Pledge for Nate campaign.
"As an athlete I am very against the whole scene of drink-driving and the accidents that come with it," she said.
"I have never lost anyone to drink-driving but I have had friends who have. To see what they go through, I never want to go through that."
The Pledge for Nate campaign in memory of eight-month-old Nate Dunbar, who was killed when a drunk driver crashed into his bedroom, has attracted more than 6500 signatories since its November 30 launch. More than 80 per cent are women.
Evans did not hesitate to get involved after reading about the loss of Nate. "Reading that gave me goosebumps," she said.
Evans said Nate's story resonated with her as a woman because it involved a mother losing her child. "A death is always hard but when a mother loses a child it is inconsolable," she said.
Evans said the closest she came to losing someone to drink-driving was seeing her brother mourn for his friend, who went to her school.
"It can tear a community apart," she said.
