WAWZONEK BIKING ACROSS CANADA IN SUPPORT OF D.A.R.E.

Despite foul weather including rain and wind, Stan Wawzonek continued on
his Dare to Ride' program and biked through the Broadview area on Tuesday,
July 9.

The 60 year old grandfather from Brantford, Ontario, got involved with
D.A.R.E., Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, last fall when his
oldest grandson graduated from the program. Wawzonek became interested in
supporting the educational program and began talking to the police chief
about biking across Canada in support of D.A.R.E. officers. He quickly
changed his focus to the D.A.R.E. program.

I went to four D.A.R.E. graduations and I was sold,' he said. What really
inspired the Ontario native was a story from one graduation. Everyone is
invited to the graduation and the parents of one grad were both drug users.
At the end of the program they walked up and thanked the constable and said
maybe our kids will learn how to say no.' He began his journey on April
30th in St. John's, Newfoundland. Wawzonek had three goals when he began
his journe: to finish the trip, to promote the D.A.R.E. program and to
raise funds to support the efforts of the program throughout Canada.

The latter goal quickly changed once he started his journey. Originally I
wanted to raise $1 million for D.A.R.E.,' he commented. But once he stopped
in the communities he realized he didn't want to take money away from the
local programs so instead he has focused his goal on awareness; to develop
the program throughout more communities and develop support in the local
communities for the program.

Wawzonek and his crew, George and Mildred Markle, stopped in Whitewood to
enjoy coffee and donuts last Tuesday with local residents including the
past and present D.A.R.E. graduates.

The festivities continued on to Broadview at the RCMP Detachment. Local
residents attended a barbeque with hamburgers, pop and cake for $2.00. The
hamburgers were cooked by local RCMP officers. Daren the D.A.R.E. lion was
on hand to entertain guests.

Sgt. Bill Blanshard, the drug awareness coordinator for RCMP Saskatchewan
also attended the festivities. He presented Wawzonek and his road crew with
t-shirts from D.A.R.E. Saskatchewan.

Sgt. Blanshard praised the efforts of Wawzonek and his work for the
D.A.R.E. program. Part of the funding that is raised goes towards training
D.A.R.E. officers. Many communities are still without D.A.R.E. programs
because they do not have a trained officer. Even in the Broadview
Detachment Cst. Sutherland is the only officer to complete the training.
But Sgt. Blanshard hopes that with efforts like Wawzonek's, many
communities will soon be able to offer the drug resistance course to their
children.

No kid will ever not have access to the D.A.R.E. program eventually.' Cpl.
Doug Dersch, one of the 8 original officers to graduate the D.A.R.E.
program in 1998, from the Kyle RCMP Detachment also attended the Broadview
celebration and even gave some lucky youths a ride.

Wawzonek was overwhelmed with the show of support in both communities and
congratulated both towns in their support of their local program. He has
stopped in communities along the way but stated that Broadview and
Whitewood have been two of the best showings of support.

A raffle was held for those that attended both events, Don Taylor of
Broadview won a D.A.R.E. hat and Elsie Richter won a set of D.A.R.E. mugs.
In total, over $300 was raised in support of the D.A.R.E. program.
Broadview RCMP Detachment appreciates the support from Aaron Davies from
the Whitewood Tourism Booth; Whitewood Elks for supplying picnic tables;
Broadview Royal Canadian Legion for supplying a coffee urn; Broadview Lions
for supplying picnic tables; all the volunteers that helped in Whitewood
and Broadview and all the local residents that came out in the rain in
support of the D.A.R.E. program.

Before Wawzonek resumed his journey westward he said a few final words. You
know how good D.A.R.E. is because it's here, try to pass it on to other
folks down the road and most of all support your local D.A.R.E. program.'
Wawzonek hopes to reach his final destination, Victoria B.C. by July 24th.