It’s four years since U-of-M student 21-year-old Robert Brau was killed by a distracted driver while riding his motorcycle home to Willmar — and Brau’s family is inviting the public to remember him Tuesday and make their stand against distracted driving. Robert’s mother, Donna Brau, says people should “think twice before they get in their car, talk on their phones and text people and reach in the back seat for their jacket or comb their hair or put on their makeup. We just really need people to set all that aside and really take driving more seriously.”
Brau adds, “Loss of a child you never really heal from, but you do try to find ways to remember him and ways to make a difference…. I guess this is what we do: We try to make sure other people that we love and people that we know make that commitment to just drive.”
Today’s events include the annual motorcycle Ride for Robert in Willmar. The family has established scholarship funds at the U-of-M and Willmar High School for students pursuing interests similar to Robert’s, especially music. For more information: robertjbraufamilyfoundation.com.