LOCAL STUDENTS RACE AGAINST DRUGS

Awareness Initiative Features Numerous Activities For Elementary
School Students

PARRSBORO - Ready, set, go... and the race was on for Parrsboro
Regional Elementary School's Grades 4 through 6 students who spent the
morning participating in the Race Against Drugs in the Parrsboro
Regional High School gymnasium on Feb. 26.

Race Against Drugs is an initiative of the Parrsboro and Area Drug
Awareness Committee to help support youth education regarding safety
in many areas of life including drugs.

The program included a number of activities for the kids to
participate in to show how drugs and alcohol can affect motor skills.

One of the activities included an interactive dance mat where the kids
had to follow along with dance steps, another included stacking cups,
while two other activities included tracks set up for race cars. These
activities were designed to show how being under the influence of
drugs or alcohol could impair a person's reaction.

The man behind the race was Cpl. Gary Frail from Halifax RCMP Drug
Awareness, who travels bringing this interactive way of learning to
various communities.

"Cpl. Dal Hutchinson and retired Sgt. Bob Foley were the ones who
brought the Race Against Drugs to Parrsboro," Frail said. "It's a
great way for the kids to have fun while they're learning how certain
motor skills couldn't be carried out if you were under the influence
of drugs or alcohol."

"There were a number of other volunteers who came in and helped us
carry in all the equipment and set up," he added. "Things wouldn't
have been organized if it weren't for all of the volunteers."

The kids spent an allotted amount of time at each station, which also
included talking with a conservation officer with the Department of
Natural Resources about ATV safety; Cpl. Dal Hutchinson on peer
pressure, gangs, etc., Cpl. John James on bullying and EHS about what
effects alcohol and drugs can have on a person.

Grades 4 through 6 students from Parrsboro Regional Elementary School
spent the morning with these activities while Springhill students
spent the afternoon in Parrsboro taking part in this event.