GUN BARREL CITY -- The third annual Henderson County "Walk Like MADD" fundraiser will kick off at the City Park on Saturday, Oct. 20, to help provide financial support for the national organization that works to stop drunk driving. Registration to walk in the nationally-coordinated 5-K event will begin in Gun Barrel City Park at 7:30 a.m., opening ceremonies will start at 8:30 a.m. and participants will step off at 9 a.m. A softball tournament will be held later in the day after the walk. Money that is raised by the walk for MADD, which was founded in 1980 as Mothers Against Drunk Driving by a woman whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, will be used to help stop drunk driving, support victims of violent crime and prevent underage drinking, according to the MADD website. In addition to walkers, local organizers are seeking sponsorships from local businesses and players for the softball tournament. For information about becoming a sponsor call 903-534-6000, and for information about participation in the softball tournament call David Morrow at 903-288-1786. Some 52 cities across the country, including Dallas and Fort Worth, are scheduled to participate in 5-K walks. In urging volunteers to participate in the organization's signature fundraising events, MADD cites the following statistics: more than 10,000 people died in drunk-driving crashes last year, amounting to one every 50 minutes; every minute a person is injured in an alcohol-related crash; teen alcohol use results in about 6,000 people dying every year, which is more than all illegal drugs combined and car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, with one out of three being alcohol-related. MADD notes it spends the money it raises on providing programs to support victims, providing equipment to local police, lobbying state and local legislators and providing education programs to students of all ages. Visit the MADD website at http://walklikemadd.org/