Red Ribbon Week 2011 Kick-off - Oak Ridge Road Park

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Prevention Links and the Union County D.A.R.E. Officers Association, are hosting the start of Red Ribbon Week 2011 with a day of healthy outdoor family activities on Saturday, October 22, 2011 at Oak Ridge Park in Clark.  This campaign works to prevent substance abuse by bringing families together.

Red Ribbon Day will be packed with free children’s activities including such favorites as a petting zoo, moonwalks, games, and a helicopter landing.  The activities take place from 11:00am – 4:00pm.

A Red Ribbon 5K will kick-off the days activities.  This race will take place on a USATF Certified scenic course with mile splits and water stops.  Registration begins at 8:00am or register early by October 15, 201.  Early registration is $18 after October 15, 2011 including race day, is $23.  You can  register online at raceforum.com/redribbon or compuscorereg.com.

Families can also enjoy the Red Ribbon Family Fun Walk, designed to encourage parents and families to join with children, from infants to young adults, in healthy outdoor activities.  This walk begin at 12:00pm, on a flat two-mile course around Oak Ridge Park.  Registration begins at 11:00am.  The Family Fun Walk is a way for families to show their support for Prevention Links and substance abuse prevention and education.   Walkers are encouraged to start a fundraising page at firstgiving.com/preventionlinks.

Walkers can visit the Prevention Links donations page, preventionlinks.org/donations, to set up a fundraising team. Fundraising awards will be presented to the winners of various fundraising groups.  Prevention Links also invites schools and students to participate in the annual “What’s My Anti-Drug” poster contest.  This contest is open to all Union County 5 - 8 grade students.  There will be three winners from each grade who will be selected to receive a prize and present their winning submission at Red Ribbon Day.

The Red Ribbon Campaign commemorates the life of Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who died at the hands of drug traffickers in Mexico while conducting an undercover investigation of a major drug cartel.  Camarena worked his way through college, served in the Marines and became a police officer before joining the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

For more information on the Red Ribbon Campaign and all Red Ribbon activities, contact Prevention Links at info@preventionlinks.org or 732-381-4100.  All are welcome.