Will To Live

Students and their parents from all over New Zealand will be celebrating Students Against Driving Drunk Awareness Week, September 7 – 12, by signing “Will to Live” contracts with each other in a National push to reach a record of 5000 plus signed “Will to Live” contracts.

In addition, New Zealand hip hop legends Mareko and DJCXL will be performing “Will to Live” concerts in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Schools are also being encouraged to enter a “Will to Live” competition, where they perform a short stage show promoting the alternatives to drinking and driving, positive choices for students and strategies to get mates not to drink and drive. There are $5,000 of prizes to be won.

Chloe Johnston, national co-ordinator of “Students Against Driving Drunk” (SADD) says the “Will to Live” contracts are a pact between parents and secondary students to party safe and drive sober.

SADD is a National non-profit organisation, started in 1985 and governed by the Automobile Association Driver Education Foundation. Foundation chief executive Peter Sheppard, says with 80% of New Zealand secondary schools having SADD representatives, the attempt for a record signing of “Will to Live” contracts has enormous potential to make a difference in keeping students safe on our roads.

Tamati Paul, the victim of a drunk driver crash that changed him from elite athlete to someone who had to learn to walk and talk all over again, says every effort must be made to make our roads safer. Tamati Paul shares his story about how his and his family’s lives have been changed forever by a drunken driver, with students around New Zealand.

Students keen to enter the Will to Live Competitions or sign a Will to Live Contract with their parents can do so by going to www.sadd.org.nz

Entry to the concerts is FREE. They will be MC’d by New Zealand actor/comedian Pio Terei who is a strong supporter of the SADD message.

Show details are: Auckland – ASB Stadium, Sept 7, 1.00pm start, Opened by Hon John Tamahere Wellington – Illot Theatre, Sept 10, 6.00pm start Christchurch – The Civic, Sept 12, 7.00pm start

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