MEMORIAL WALK/RUN HONORS, ENCOURAGES ANTI-ADDICTION EFFORTS

Red Ribbon Week, the annual drug and alcohol abuse awareness national
campaign, is coming to Purdue with the Jay Severson Memorial Walk/Run
and a national speaker who will talk about overcoming his own drug
addiction.

The walk/run is an annual event that commemorates the life of Jay
Severson, a Purdue resident adviser who was killed in 1996 by one of
his residents after finding drug paraphernalia in the resident's room.
Severson's memory has left a lasting impression on many who still work
in the residence halls.

Denton Sederquist, Wiley Hall residential life manager, knew Severson
personally and has made it his mission to promote the idea behind the
actual race.

"This is a good message, and I believe in it," said Sederquist. "It's
about more than a race; it's about a life free of drugs and alcohol."

Sederquist, along with the help of volunteers, has organized the
event, which will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday on the west side of Wiley
Hall.

Complementing the race is a speaker visiting Purdue tonight to give
his account of overcoming drug addiction.

Todd Crandell, founder of the non-profit organization Racing for
Recovery, has been sober since 1993 and now leads a healthier
lifestyle, participating in the Ironman triathlons. His speech will
start at 7 p.m. in Loeb Playhouse.

Both events have come together with the help of many volunteers on
campus. Jason Grundstrom, a resident adviser at Wiley Hall and a
senior in the School of Health Sciences, has assisted Sederquist in
his goal to promote the importance of the race and the overall theme
of Red Ribbon Week.

"This race is significant of two things: of a life lost and also the
lives we're trying to help through this event," said Grundstrom.
"Personally, I see this as an incredible cause, and it's something I
think every resident needs to be aware of and participate in."

Sederquist is expecting a fairly good turnout and will be speaking at
the start of the race.

"The message with the race and speaker is to notice the telltale signs
of alcoholism and drug addiction," said Sederquist. "We do this in
memory of what happened here. It's something we don't want to forget."

The entry fee for the event will be $10, with all profits going toward
the Jay Severson Memorial Fund, providing money for education in the
prevention of alcohol and drug abuse. Participants who pre-register
will receive a free T-shirt and registration will be open until 8:30
a.m. on race day.