Celebrate FAMILY DAY: A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children on Monday, September 27, 2021

Celebrate FAMILY DAY: A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children
on Monday, September 27, 2021

InnerAct Alliance and its coalition partners, StandUP Polk and UthMpact, encourage your family to participate in Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children on Monday, September 27, 2021. Family Day began in 2001 as a national effort to promote family dinners as an effective way to reduce youth substance abuse and other risky behaviors. Research by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University consistently finds that the more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they will be to smoke, drink, or use illegal substances. To learn more about this initiative, sign the family day pledge, and receive tips to talk with your children, visit www.informedfamilies.org.

Families can also show support for prevention of substance abuse by participating in the Annual Red Ribbon Campaign events. The 2021 Red Ribbon Run & Challenge, presented by title sponsor Publix Super Markets, will take place on Saturday morning, October 16 at Lake Mirror in Lakeland with the Red Ribbon Run for K-8 students, along with the first ever Family Fun Run, plus a great new farmers market featuring delicious fruits, veggies, and healthy activities.

Registration is FREE at RedRibbonRun.com for students in grades K-8 who pre-register before October 16 and parents may pay a $5 fee to run with their child in the Family Fun Run. Race check-in for the Kids Fun Run begins at 7:00 am at Lake Mirror Auditorium. Family Fun Run takes place at 8:15 am, and grade heats begin at 8:30 am (times approximate). There will also be weekly challenges with themes of nutrition, anti-bullying, and fitness where kids can complete online challenges and post them on the Red Ribbon Run Facebook page to earn points for prizes.

"The Annual Red Ribbon Run encourages healthy family activities, which reduce the likelihood of substance abuse, bullying, violence, and other risky behaviors," said InnerAct Alliance's Executive Director, Angie Ellison. "Please join us on October 16 by sponsoring, running, or volunteering at www.RedRibbonRun.com or on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RedRibbonRunSeries "