The event to raise awareness of Alaska's drunken driving epidemic was started several years ago by Nancy Bidwell, who runs Forget-Me-Not, an anti-DUI organization. Bidwell's 17-year-old daughter was killed by a drunken driver more than 20 years ago in Anchorage.
"This ride is about raising awareness about the drinking and driving problem," Bidwell said in a statement released by the Department of Public Safety. "Alcohol and gasoline don't mix. When they do, it's a deadly combination."
Several dozen motorcyclists rode from Fairbanks to Soldotna this weekend as part of the event. They left Fairbanks on Saturday.
Jerome Oates knows firsthand the pain a drunken driver can cause. While riding his motorcycle in 2003, Oates, the food service supervisor at Palmer Correctional Center, was struck by a drunken driver who ran a red light. He had to undergo seven surgeries, and he was unable to ride for two years.
Oates said it's not uncommon to see incarcerated Alaskans with six or seven DUI convictions.
"I don't think the law does enough to help people," he said. "They just keep getting out and doing it again because their drinking is not dealt with."
Oates said nobody is special in the group, they've all drunk alcohol before.
"But we then chose not to operate a motor vehicle," he said.
The riders include police officers, firefighters and district attorneys, those people who often have to deal with the consequences of drunken driving.
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