Bill and Julie Downs along with Candace Webb, co-founded AVIDD (Advocates for Victims of Impaired/Distracted Driving) in 2008, formerly known as Victims of Impaired Driving Support Group on Facebook, after the loss of their 3 kids due to a drunk, drugged and texting driver. The driver was also killed in that crash. The Downs' later formed three other on line support groups, making four on-line support groups;
Group one is for those who have lost a loved one in a DUI crash
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AVID4DUIvictims
Group two is for those who have been impacted by injury in a DUI crash
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AVID4DUIsurvivors
Group three is for those who have been impacted in a distracted driving crash
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AVID.Distracted
Group four is for those who have been impacted by a BUI, boating under the influence
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AVIDDimpairedboatingvictims
The Downs' became involved with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) as volunteers on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. After 6 years of devoted service and investing hundreds of dollars of their own money; MADD abruptly discharged the Downs'.
They say when one door closes; another will open that is even better. MADD had no idea they were doing the Downs' a favor. The Downs' contacted the former founder and president of MADD, Candace Lightner and her words encouraged the Downs' to move forward in what the Downs' were already doing with the support groups. Candace Lightner suggested to the Downs' to turn their online support groups into an international organization supporting victims all over the world. At this time they have members from the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.
The Downs' are award winning Co-Authors of the Grief Diaries Loss at the Hands of an Impaired Driving and co-authors of Grief Diaries Shattered, with Lynda Cheldelin Fell, Creator and Founder at Grief Dearies.
http://www.griefdiaries.com/home.html
Bill has contributed to Grief Diaries Through the Eyes of Men, and Julie and Bill has contributed to Grief Diaries Will We Survive.
https://www.amazon.com/Grief-Diaries-Loss-Impaired-Driver/dp/1944328262/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pl_foot_top?ie=UTF8
https://www.amazon.com/Grief-Diaries-Lynda-Cheldelin-Fell/dp/1944328378/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484144463&sr=8-1&keywords=grief+diaries+shattered
https://www.amazon.com/Grief-Diaries-Through-Eyes-Men/dp/1944328483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484144632&sr=8-1&keywords=grief+diaries+through+the+eyes+of+men
https://www.amazon.com/Grief-Diaries-Will-We-Survive/dp/1944328513/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484144755&sr=8-1&keywords=grief+diaries+will+we+survive
The Downs' believe that God has taken the horrific tragedy of the death of their kids and turned it into a chance to make a difference in the lives of it's members and be a voice for those who do not have a voice. The members in turn are the voice of the victims and will make a difference in society.
Paul (Todd) J. and Candace (Candy) M. Webb, Married September 26, 1992
Todd is a graduate of D’Iberville High and then continued his education by attending Jackson County Jr College where he obtained his degree in Diesel Mechanics.
Candy is a graduate of Gulfport High and then continued her education at Phillips Jr College where she obtained an Associate’s Degree. Later in life went back to William Carey College and received her Bachelors of Science in Business.
Todd currently is with the Mississippi Department of Transportation where he over see’s and helps maintain our roads and highways for safety.
Candy currently is owner of Webb’s Bookkeeping Service.
Together they are owners of LifeVantage which is a burgeoning science-based nutraceutical company dedicated to helping people achieve healthy living through a combination of scientifically validated products and an attractive business opportunity. We help people become better, creating and living a legacy, and living a life of purpose by helping others improve their physical and financial health.
They have raised two boys Christopher Wayne (1985 – 2009) and Shane Water born in 1993.
In 2009 their lives were forever changed. A BUI driver fleeing from the water patrol ran over our boy’s boat. Christopher passed and Shane was severely injured.
They are the Co-Founders in AVIDD with Bill & Julie Downs – and together they will be the voices of all victims of this senseless crime.
Candy is a writer/contributer to her first book contribution, Grief Diaries 'Shattered'.
https://www.amazon.com/Grief-Diaries-Lynda-Cheldelin-Fell/dp/1944328378/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484144463&sr=8-1&keywords=grief+diaries+shattered
Candy and Todd are also working towards “WEBB’s LAW” with the help of AVIDD
WEBB’S LAW
“Boating Under the Influence of Alcohol causing Death and/or Bodily injury”
Currently Boating under the Influence carries a maxium 10 year sentence while DUI carries a maximum 25 year sentence for the same crime. Webb’s Law is to establish equal penalty for equal crime, whether on land or water.