Prevention Links and the Union County D.A.R.E. Officers Association annually hold a family fun day to kick off the start of Red Ribbon Week here in Union County. Red Ribbon Week is always celebrated from October 23rd through October 31st.
The 12th Annual Red Ribbon Day event will take place on October 23rd at Nomahegan Park in Cranford. This free family event will feature helicopter landings, a petting zoo, games, and other family friendly activities.
For more information, please contact Prevention Links at info@preventionliks.org or (732) 381-4100.
Red Ribbon Week serves as a vehicle for communities and individuals to take a stand for the hopes and dreams of our children through a commitment to drug prevention and education and a personal commitment to live drug free lives with the ultimate goal being the creation of drug free America.
NEW this year is the Red-Ribbon Four Miler! The race will take place on a fast, flat USATF Certified scenic course with mile splits and water stops. The race travels through neighborhood streets and ends in Nomahegan Park.
The race will take place at 9:30 AM on October 23, with registration beginning at 8:00 AM.
Awards will be presented to the top three overall males and females and also the top male and female in each age group. The age groups consist of: 18 and under; 19-25 years old; 26-35 years old; 36-45 years old; 46-55 years old; 55 and over.
Early registration (by 10/15) is $18. Registration after 10/15, including race day, is $23. Register online at www.raceforum.com/rr4miler or www.compuscorereg.com.Scoring and results provided by Compuscore. All racers will receive a postcard with overall and complete results.
Everyone Knows Someone...Walk to Prevent the Next One!
Everyone knows someone who has been impacted by alcohol or drugs. Be a part of the solution.
Walk to honor a friend, family member, neighbor or co-worker in recovery.
Walk so our kids can be drug free.
Walk for those not yet in recovery...Walk!
Also new this year is the Red Ribbon Family Fun Walk! The walk is designed to encourage healthy activities amongst families.
The Family Fun Walk will take place on October 23 at 12:00 PM on a flat two-mile course around Nomahegan Park as part of our annual Red Ribbon Day Drug Awareness Event. Registration begins at 11:00 AM.
Please visit our donations page here (www.preventionlinks.org/donations) to set up your fundraising team!
Awards will be presented to the following top fundraisers: Family Team, Individual, and Classroom.
"What's my anti drug" poster contest
We would like to invite you and your school to participate in our county wide “What’s My Anti-Drug” poster contest. This contest is open to all Union County 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. Students are asked to create a poster describing what they choose to do instead of drugs. This can include things such as sports, family, and hobbies. We will choose three winners from each grade to receive a prize and present their winning submission at our county-wide Red Ribbon Day. The winners will be chosen strictly on originality and creativeness not on artistic ability. The contest will begin in the next few weeks. Please check back for details!
The Story of Red Ribbon
Red Ribbon Week commemorates the ultimate sacrifice made by DEA Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who died at the hands of drug traffickers in Mexico while fighting the battle against illegal drugs to keep our country and children safe.
Enrique "Kiki" Camarena grew up in a dirt-floored house with hopes and dreams of making a difference. Camarena worked his way through college, served in the Marines and became a police officer.
When he decided to join the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, his mother tried to talk him out it. "I can't not do this," he told her. "I'm only one person, but I want to make a difference."
The DEA sent Camarena to work undercover in Mexico investigating a major drug cartel believed to include officers in the Mexican army, police and government. On Feb. 7, 1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch. Five men appeared at the agent's side and shoved him in a car. One month later, Camarena's body was found in a shallow grave. He had been tortured to death.
In honor of Camarena's memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin. Parents, sick of the destruction of alcohol and other drugs, had begun forming coalitions. Some of these new coalitions took Camarena as their model and embraced his belief that one person can make a difference. These coalitions also adopted the symbol of Camarena's memory the red ribbon.
The National Family Partnership organized the first Red Ribbon Campaign in 1988. Since that time, the campaign has reached millions of U.S. children.
