Pubdate: Wed, 17 Jul 2002
Source: Grenfell Sun & Broadview Express (CN SN)
Copyright: 2002 Grenfell Sun & Broadview Express
Website: http://www.sasknews.com/news.shtml
Contact:  Box 189, Grenfell, Saskatchewan S0G 2B0
Phone: (306) 697-2722
Fax: (306) 697-2689
Author: Trudy Bosch

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.