1,400 RUN IN RED RIBBON RACE TO PROMOTE DRUG AWARENESS

The Red Ribbon Run Classic went off without a hitch Saturday morning,
marking the race's 15th year in Polk County.

The one-mile run promoting drug awareness drew nearly 1,400 runners
from local schools this year.

"It gets bigger and bigger every year," said Kaye McConnell, chairman
of the Red Ribbon Campaign, a drug prevention program.

The nationwide event occurs throughout October. Locally, the Red
Ribbon Campaign coordinated kickoffs at Rochelle School of the Arts
and Griffin Elementary earlier this month, with speakers from the
Polk County School Board.

"We send information to every school, public or private, inviting
them to the run and letting them know things they can do for Red
Ribbon," McConnell said.

Every year the school with the most students attending the event
receives an award. Since the event's creation, Lime Street Elementary
has won the award every year. This year was no different, with 285 of
the school's 607 students running.

"It's just a tradition. We talk about it, but I don't do anything (to
motivate students to attend) in particular," said Mike O'Neil, a
coach at Lime Street. "It's just kids and parents. I attribute it to
everyone else."

Changes in this year's event include the move inside to Joker
Marchant Stadium. In past years, the run was in the stadium's parking lot.

"We've been waiting to move inside the stadium since 2003," said
Angie Ellison, executive director of the Drug Prevention Resource Center.

Last year the run was at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, where
volunteers successfully broke a world record for longest ribbon-
cutting. In 2004, the run relocated to George Jenkins High School
because Joker Marchant had been damaged by one of that year's three hurricanes.

Ellison said having the event in the stadium is an overall
improvement to the run.

"It really helps spectators have a comfortable place to watch,"
Ellison said. She added that the stadium helped the event move
quickly, shortening its usual length by more than 30 minutes.

The Kids Health & Wellness Carnival is another addition to the event.
With an obstacle course and other physical activities, the carnival
promoted eating well and keeping fit. "At any other carnival they'd
go on rides and eat cotton candy," McConnell said. "Here they eat
healthy snacks, such as milk and fruit, and do all kinds of healthy things."