The "Race Against Drugs" event is underway in Chatham for another year.
Event Chair Amanda Wyatt says around 1,100 Grade 5 students are expected to learn about drugs and alcohol and their negative effects.
Students at the Race Against Drugs event April 03, 2017. (Photo by Paul Pedro)
Wyatt says the goal is to guide students into making good choices.
"We have the vision impaired goggles and they show you what you could be seeing if you have the stuff in your system," says Wyatt.
Several local authorities such as the RCMP, the OPP, Chatham-Kent police, fire service and EMS are helping bring the message home all week at Erickson Arena.
Students at the Race Against Drugs event April 03, 2017. (Photo by Paul Pedro)
Wyatt says the week long event gives students a good dose of reality.
"No, I never got the chance to. They didn't have it when I was young but now that I've been here...we've been at different facilities and it's just been excellent and the kids are awesome," Wyatt says.
Co-Chair Sharon Chapple says students always get good information that stays with them.
"We have found out over the years that high school students come back to us and meet us on the street and they remember what they've learned from this program," she says. "It's given them the ability to make healthy and responsible choices and say no."