Jun. 8, 2006 - Hungarian Anti-Drug Marathon
When people know the truth about drugs they are far less likely to use them.
Drugs ruin lives, and Scientologists are passionate about helping people avoid ruining their lives this way.
Here's a great story about members of the Church of Scientology of Budapest and their work to promote living drug-free lives on the Scientology Effective Soluntions web site:
A dedicated team of Scientologists have gained support from all sectors of Hungarian society to bring about a Drug-Free Hungary.
With the completion of the Fifth Annual Anti-Drug Marathon they have
brought the message to towns and cities throughout the country to "Say NO to Drugs."
It takes dedication to run the 26.2 miles or 42 kilometers of a
marathon. But these athletes were not content to run just one such
event — they wanted to reach all the youth of Hungary. So for 42 days
they crisscrossed the country visiting towns and cities in 19 counties
and covering 2088 kilometers — the equivalent of nearly 50 marathons.
Beginning with their opening event — a concert at the Hungarian
Parliament in Budapest — the runners were welcomed in town after town
by mayors, officials and entire schools. And in each town the
marathoners gave drug-education lectures in schools and town squares,
passed out booklets giving the truth about drugs and swore in children
to be Drug-Free Marshals, a program where children pledge not to take
drugs and to help their friends make the same decision.
In the town of Fuzesabony the Under-Secretary of the Ministry
for Youth, Family Affairs, Social and Equal Opportunity gave his thanks
to the marathoners for the work they are doing and the mayor of the
town, who organized a whole series of events for the team, laced up his
own running shoes and joined the race.
In Kiskunhalas the Mayor took his own drug-free pledge
alongside hundreds of children from his town. In Szolnok, Natasa
Janics, Hungarian Olympic kayak world champion and the entire kayak
team endorsed the program.
For five weeks the 2006 Hungarian Anti-Drug Marathon athletes carried out
their mission to spread the word about drugs and promote drug-free living.
Through their actions they touched the lives of thousands of Hungarian youth
who have made the commitment to "Say NO to Drugs."
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