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MADD Taking Underage Drinking Message To Schools

MIAMI (CBS4) - During the month of October, Mother's Against Drunk Driving of Miami-Dade County will be visiting local schools with a message trying

"Underage drinking is the root of drunk driving and if we can dig up the roots we will save lives," said Helen Witty, who is volunteering with MADD and is also the mother of teen killed by a drunk driver.

It's all part of "Red Ribbon Week," and the mission is to educate students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Witty lost her daughter, 16-year-old Helen Marie Witty at the hands of a drunk driver.

"My daughter was killed in 2000 as she rollerbladed along a bike path," said Witty.

MADD welcomed a special family Monday during an assembly for students at Southwood Middle School. The family of 13-year-old Kaely Camacho who attended the school in Palmetto Bay.

The teen was killed in a car accident last April at the hands of an accused drunk driver. Monday, Angela Camacho, Kaely's mother, promoted an important issue in her daughters memory.

"It's very important to me to get the message out to students about the dangers of drinking and driving," said Angela Camacho.

CBS4 News was not permitted to attend the assembly for student on Southwood's Campus, but Kaely's older sister Bree Ann Camacho told us what she shared with students.

"Drinking and driving ended horribly and I lost my sister to it," said Bree Ann Camacho.

We asked MADD and their volunteers what it meant to have the fallen teen's family present at Southwood Middle, a school impacted by tragedy.

"Everything, because for these students here it's personal...and for them to have the courage to be here makes a huge difference," said Witty.

MADD will be visiting Crop Senior High School on Tuesday.

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