GOING THE DISTANCE FOR DRUG EDUCATION

Students have been busy stuffing fliers and spreading the word, while
teachers, parents and community members are also gearing up for the Islip
Great Buccaneer 5K Fun Run next month.

Runners, walkers and wheelchair competitors from all over Long Island are
expected at Islip Middle School for the event, now in its third year. The
object is not just to provide healthy exercise but to raise funds for the
school district's Islip Drug Education Awareness Task Force, a
wide-reaching community effort.

"For years it was my dream to have a running event right here in Islip,"
explained middle school physical education teacher Barbara Galpin, an avid
runner who has competed in marathons and distance races throughout the
United States and Europe. She added that she suggested the Fun Run three
years ago to then assistant school superintendent Alan Van Cott, who gave
it a thumbs-up. Galpin is one of the race's organizers.

At the time there was growing concern among officials about the exposure of
youngsters to substance abuse, and the task force was created. Comprising
school officials, the Islip Council of PTAs and others, it meets regularly
to plan activities and programs. Its mission is stated in the race flier:
"Zero tolerance for drug, alcohol and substance abuse by the children of
Islip."

"I felt it important to respond in a positive manner by reaching out to
various groups to see if we could address these areas of great concern,"
said Van Cott, who is now the district's superintendent.

"We just can't turn our backs and choose to ignore what we know occurs
among youth, not only in Islip but in every town," said Anna Ferrara, a
former PTA Council president who spearheaded the effort to create the task
force. "Helping our students do the right thing and make good choices
despite peer pressures, curiosity and lack of direction is an ongoing
process," Ferrara said.

The funds raised by the 5K runs and other events go toward school programs
aimed at fostering a healthy lifestyle and combating substance abuse, as
well as such recent headline issues as violence prevention. For example,
Melanie Holz of the South Shore Community Organization has helped establish
a six-week special summer activity program for middle school children. And
a Friday night supervised recreation program is also under way at the Islip
Middle School. A partnership with the South Shore YMCA is being explored.

Patricia Whitehouse is a task force member and holds a grant-funded job as
a specialist in drug and alcohol abuse at Islip High School. An adviser to
a school group, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Whitehouse noted
that its members are pledged to choose a healthy lifestyle and serve "as a
model to their peers and demonstrate to them that there are many ways to
have fun without indulging in alcohol and other dangerous substances."

For some students at Islip High School, the goal seems to have been
achieved. "The 5K fun run is the perfect way to say no to drugs and say yes
to positive habits like exercise," said Jeff Sluker, 18, a senior. Nancy
Prior, 17, a junior, said the event serves as "a healthy alternative to
drugs and alcohol. It's especially nice for me because younger kids look up
to me because I'm a high school student."

The run takes place rain or shine on May 20 on a 3.1-mile flat-terrain
course through Islip's south shore. It will be professionally timed and
feature water stops and entertainment. A much shorter children's fun run is
at 9 a.m. before the main competition at 9:30 a.m. Preregistration for the
5K is $12; Islip students, $5. For information, call 631-859-2382.