DARE Classic to fight drugs with some fun and a run
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 5/8/08

BY BONNIE DELANEY
TOMS RIVER BUREAU

BERKELEY — Calling all runners, walkers, spectators and anyone who would like to spend a day in the park to benefit a good cause: the Berkeley Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education program.

On Saturday at Veterans Park, runners and walkers are invited to lace up their sneakers for the third annual DARE Classic, which offers a one-mile fun run and walk starting at 9 a.m. and a five-kilometer race at 9:30 a.m.

This year's race offers hours of fun, including food, music, children's activities, raffles and an awards ceremony, said Officer Scott Selby, who with Officer Damon Papa teaches the DARE program to fifth-graders at Berkeley Township Elementary School.

Registered racers receive a race T-shirt, Selby said, adding that this year the 5K course is a USATF-sanctioned event. USATF stands for United States of America Track and Field.

Last year there were 500 racers registered and many more spectators, he said. Proceeds from the DARE Classic directly benefit the children of the community through various programs, he said.

"We are committed to teaching the children about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol and other dangerous drugs," Selby said.

Selby said that proceeds from the DARE Classic are used to purchase prizes to give to children who win DARE contests the officers hold throughout the year. Prizes include basketballs, Frisbees, portable fans, backpacks and hats, all with the DARE logo.

"This year we were able to give away a brand-new DARE bicycle and helmet to the top winner of the DARE Anti-Tobacco Poster Contest," he said.

Papa said 275 fifth-graders at the Berkeley Township Elementary School participated in the poster contest this year and the top poster was created by Tayla Edler, a student in Josephine Violante's class.

"She put forth an outstanding effort and her message shows that she understands the dangers that come from using tobacco," he added.

Other first-place winners selected from each class received DARE sweat shirts. They were Erica Lyon, Shawn Kessler, Heather Buck, Taylor Keehn, Leanna Reeves, Jasmine Jimenez, Samantha Barrios, Blake Czajkowski, Suzanne Olsen, Jackie Canny and Troy Laureigh.

Selby said the next contest for fifth-graders will be an essay contest with the topic of what they learned from the DARE program about alcohol, tobacco and peer pressure.

  

 
 
From left are DARE Officer Damon Papa, Tayla Edler and Officer Scott Selby. Selby and Papa teach the DARE program to fifth-graders at Berkeley Township Elementary School, and Tayla won the school's DARE Anti-Tobacco Poster Contest.

 

IF YOU GO
 
The third annual DARE Classic will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at Veterans Park, Veterans Boulevard, Berkeley.  Sponsored by the Berkeley Police Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education program, Municipal Alliance, and Recreation Department, proceeds from the event benefit children directly through various programs at the schools.  To register, visit www.berkeleydare.com or the Berkeley Recreation Center on Route 9 for registration forms.  Registration also may be done the morning of the race at Veterans Park.  The event will be held rain or shine.