NEW BLOOMFIELD - A campaign to encourage students to stay away from tobacco products begins this week at the New Bloomfield Junior/Senior High School and ends next week with a 5K Run/Walk event.
Students will observe "Kick Butts Week" through Friday and a Kick Butts 5K Run/Walk on Nov. 5 in Fulton.
Students and members of the school staff will participate in several tobacco education activities, including guessing the number of cigarette butts collected at local parks, a shoe display representing the number of people who die each hour from tobacco use, and education about how tobacco affects Missourians.
At the end of the week, Don Young of St. Charles, a guest speaker, will talk to the student body about his personal experiences with throat cancer and how it changed his life.
Young represents Young Choices, a not-for-profit organization that develops tobacco-prevention programs for schools, churches, community organizations and businesses.
The New Bloomfield Smokebusters, an anti-smoking organization at New Bloomfield High School, will host a 5K Run/Walk event on Nov. 5 in Fulton.
The race, open to everyone, will start rain or shine at 9 a.m. at Memorial Field, West Second Street in Fulton. The race will be along the Stinson Creek Trail.
The entry fee is $20. After Oct. 31, the fee is $25.
T-shirts are guaranteed to the first 100 entrants. Race day registration will be from 8-8:45 a.m. Pre-registration will be available from 5-7 p.m. Nov. 4 at the YMCA in Fulton. The registration form can be downloaded and printed at nb.k12.mo.us.