A mother whose son was killed by an intoxicated motorist has warned that the anti-drink-driving charity she works for is under threat.

Jane Evason's 19-year-old son Gareth was knocked down following a night out with friends near Wantage.

The tragedy in 1998 turned Mrs Evason into a dedicated campaigner against drink-driving.

But she warned that the Campaign Against Drink Driving (CADD), where she works at Grove, is struggling to survive and could disappear within months without an injection of cash.

It can not afford to print more posters and is running out of leaflets.

She said the charity has approached several businesses for sponsorship, including car firms, breweries and supermarkets, but claimed they did not want to be associated with an anti-drink-driving message.

Mrs Evason, 45, of Evenlode Close, Wantage, said the charity had arranged a fund-raising golf day at Oxford's Hinksey Heights Golf Club in October, which it was forced to cancel because a sponsor could not be found.

"We have written to lots of companies and some didn't even bother to reply.

"We believe it's because of who we are and what we do," she said.

CADD, which has been around for 17 years, works to raise awareness of the dangers of drink-driving.

It works with the media, visits schools, liaises with the Probation Service and counsels relatives of drink-driving victims.

She said when bereaved relatives called she understood what they were going through and could offer them advice and support.

"We are coming from the heart. We are people who have been affected by this," he said.

"If someone rings me and says 'I have lost my son or daughter', I know I am qualified to talk to them and tell them it is right what they are feeling."

Her son Gareth was knocked down by a friend after leaving the Challow Country Club.

The driver was Mark Snewin, then 19, who had been with Gareth in Wantage's Lamb Inn earlier that evening.

He was two-and-a-half times over the legal limit, and is now free following a four-year jail sentence.

Supt Neil Olney, of Thames Valley's traffic department, paid tribute to the charity's work.

"We value the work of CADD and hope that they will continue to campaign against drink-driving and the devastating consequences it brings," he said.

"We have a common aim to reduce death and serious injury through drink-driving and support the work that they do." The charity soon may not be able to afford its office at Boston House, on Grove Technology Park, which costs £250 a month and has a monthly phone bill of about £100.

Anyone who wants to sponsor CADD or donate can call 0870 744 3003.