Pubdate: Tue, 01 Sep 2009 Source: Sault This Week (CN ON) Copyright: 2009 Osprey Media Group, Inc. Contact: http://www.saultthisweek.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2398 Author: Sgt. Lisa Kenopic Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) $1200 BEING DONATED TO FOCUS SAULT STE. MARIE RACING AGAINST DRUGS PROGRAM On behalf of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police Substance Abuse Committee, the Sault Ste Marie Police Service is pleased to announce that a cheque in the amount of $1,200.00 will be presented to FOCUS Sault Ste Marie who made the application under the O.A.C.P. Substance Abuse Program for the Racing Against Drugs Program. Racing Against Drugs is a nationally acclaimed road show that has been travelling across Ontario teaching the importance of being drug and alcohol free since 1994. It is a community-based initiative dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles to children in grades 4-6. The goal of the program is to use the sport of racing to capture the attention of the young people and communicate with them through an exciting and high profile sport - one with no tolerance for substance abuse. The Racing Against Drugs program is a two part, cooperative effort between the Drug Awareness Branch of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, various Ontario Police Services and participating community partners. The first part of the program is a series of interactive "Pit Stop" presentations providing different opportunities for local police, community health care professionals and other safety driven agencies to deliver their message. FOCUS Sault Ste. Marie in partnership with the R.C.M.P., Anishinabek Police Service, Indian Friendship Centre, Sault Ste. Marie Police Service, O.P.P., Garden River Recreation Centre and Metis Nation of Ontario has scheduled this project to run from October 6th 2009 to October 8th 2009 at the Garden River Recreation Centre. There will be 10 to 11 "Pit Stops" for the youth to engage in. The "Pit Stops" will deliver information on topics such as Energy Drinks, Text Messaging and Bullying, the Choking Game, Fatal Vision Goggles, Peer Pressure and more. The youth will also have the opportunity to meet and mingle with some of our local Grey Hound Hockey Players. Each youth will be given a T-shirt that will promote a drug free life style. Over the three-day venue the project will reach over sixteen hundred youth living in Sault Ste. Marie and surrounding area. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police will be providing the race tack so that the youth can enjoy the thrill and honour of racing. This is the second year that we will be delivering this project and with your help we will be able to continue to deliver this project in years to come. Donna Boston, Coordinator of FOCUS Sault Ste Marie will accept this cheque on Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. from Chief Bob Davies at the Sault Ste Marie Police Service's building. Media representatives are welcome to attend. The funding for this Grant program through the O.A.C.P. was obtained through the sale of the magazine "Not for Adults" at all A&P, Dominion, and Food Basics stores throughout Ontario. The purpose of these grants is to foster relationships between the community and police. For 2009, there were 35 grant applications received, 30 were accepted and awarded a total of $33,750.00. The application by FOCUS Sault Ste Marie was supported locally by the Sault Ste Marie Police Service, Anishinabek Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Chief Davies stated, "This has been an excellent opportunity for all local Police agencies to work together to support an initiative that benefits not only our Community but the youth as well." - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom