Shreya R. Dixit Memorial Foundation
Building Distraction-free communities, one driver at a time
For Immediate Release
Contact: Wendy Khabie
Khabie Communications
763.443.8083
A Family’s Fight for Safer Roads
An event to help raise awareness about distraction-free driving
(Minneapolis, MN) Vijay and Rekha Dixit are on a mission. They want to make sure that no parent or family ever has to endure the pain and suffering they have lived with since November 1, 2007.
While anxiously waiting for their youngest daughter Shreya to return home to Minneapolis from the University of Wisconsin, Madison for a weekend visit, they got that dreaded phone call no parent ever wants to receive – Shreya had been fatally injured in an automobile crash that was caused by a distracted driver.
With a strong desire to turn their grief into doing good, and to help make the roads safer, Shreya’s family and friends established The Shreya R. Dixit Memorial Foundation. Every year, the foundation sponsors a 5K walk to raise awareness of distraction free driving. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday morning, August 4th at Purgatory Creek Park in Eden Prairie.
In addition to this year’s event in Eden Prairie, a similar 5K walk will take place on July 28, at The Simsbury Farm Recreation Area in Simsbury, Connecticut where Shreya was born. Governor Dannel P. Malloy has proclaimed the day of the walk July 28, 2012 as Distraction-free Driving Day in Connecticut.
For more information about the two 5K walks and The Shreya R. Dixit Memorial Foundation, visit their website http://www.shreyadixit.org
Speakers at past Raksha Walks in Minnesota include Secretary of State Mark Ritchie (2011), Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek (2010) and Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman (2009).
The Dixit family hopes to expand their distraction-free driving campaign to other cities around the country. In the fall of 2009, Vijay and Nayha Dixit were invited to attend a national summit on distracted driving sponsored by the Department of Transportation. While in Washington, D.C. the Dixits met privately with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar.
To arrange for interviews with the Dixit family or representatives of the foundation in Minnesota or Connecticut, please contact Wendy Khabie at 763.443.8083 or via email wkhabie@aol.com.
