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Everyone’s invited to attend the 21st Annual Red Ribbon Run, the largest youth running event in Polk County, on Saturday morning, November 3rd, at Joker Marchant Stadium at Tigertown in Lakeland.
Event registration is FREE for K-5 grade students. Participants who pre-register through their school will receive a FREE Crushing Drugs One Step at a Time Red Ribbon Run t-shirt. All age groups are welcome. Adults and students in grade 6 and older may compete in the Open Run for a $10.00 registration fee. Registration check-in begins at 7 a.m., with the first race starting at 8 a.m. Prizes will be awarded and the school with the largest percentage of students in attendance will win a special participation trophy.
New this Year…Pre-registration for the Run will also take place the night before at the November First Friday event in Downtown Lakeland on November 2nd, from 6 pm to 9 pm.
Run festivities also include the Kids Health & Wellness Carnival, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., to celebrate the benefits of healthy living. Wristbands will be sold for $5.00 admission to enjoy interactive attractions and entertainment. To promote healthy minds as well as healthy bodies, each K-5th grade student who participates in the Run and Carnival events will receive a FREE children’s book! Local youth groups and organizations will provide kids’ services, and the Blood Net USA bloodmobile will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. To make an appointment for blood donation, visit https://www.fbsdonor.org/index.cfm?group=op&hlc=L0576
For more information on Red Ribbon activities, please call InnerAct Alliance’s executive director, Angie Ellison, at (863) 802-0777.
StandUP Polk, the Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk, and local law enforcement agencies were proud to participate in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Fall event on Saturday, September 29, 2012, and host our community’s Purge Your Pills Rx Drop Off at various locations throughout Polk County for citizens to turn in unused, expired, or unwanted Human and Pet Medications for safe and proper disposal.
An estimated 755.26 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals filling 39 bags were collected and safely disposed of via incineration. Drop-off sites included Auburndale Police Department, Haines City Police Department, Lake Alfred Police Department, Lake Wales Police Department, Lakeland Police Department, and Winter Haven Police Department, as well as Everest University’s Lakeland Campus.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time, according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet. Previous prescription medication collections held in Polk County, FL have resulted in nearly 3,000 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals.
Unwanted medications may be taken to Polk County’s new Permanent Drop Sites located at:
Auburndale Police Department – 2 Bobby Green Plaza, Auburndale, FL (weekdays, 8 am-5pm)
Haines City Police Department – 35400 Highway 27, Haines City, FL (24 hours/7 days)
Lake Alfred Police Department – 190 North Seminole Avenue, Lake Alfred, FL (24 hours/7 days)
Winter Haven Police Department – 125 N. Lake Silver Dr. NW, Winter Haven, FL (weekdays, 8am – 6pm)
StandUP Polk, the Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk, is a group of concerned citizens, law enforcement, community and business leaders working together to take a stand against drugs and bring about positive change for Polk County.
For more information, please contact Lisa A. Jones, StandUP Polk coalition coordinator, at (863) 802-0777.
