The Edmond Sun

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October 21, 2009

Walk to raise substance abuse awareness

Kathy Toppins

EDMOND — Through Rock the Walk, a two-mile community walk, Parents Helping Parents will promote substance abuse awareness and early intervention. Families, educators and concerned community members will begin the organization’s first walk-a-thon at 9 a.m. Saturday in Mitch Park. The event will include live music by 1daynow, information booths, prizes and a hot dog lunch after the walk.

“We know Edmond youth are aware of drug use and availability in our community,” said Joyce Cobb, director of services for Parents Helping Parents. “Our goal is to raise parents’ awareness as well. If our parents saw what our children see on a daily basis, they would really be scared for their children’s safety.”

A wrecked car encased in plexiglass will be on site to present a visual message on the impact of drinking and driving. Parents who lost a child to drunk driving donated the car to the Edmond Police Department.

The registration fee is $10 per person, which includes a free T-shirt and hot dog lunch. There will be a prize drawing for anyone collecting additional donations; walkers raising $100 in additional donations will receive a Rock the Walk flash drive.

All proceeds from the event will support Parents Helping Parents’ continuing efforts to provide education, referral resources and support to parents who have children abusing drugs or alcohol.

The organization’s goal is to raise $50,000.

“We’ll consider whatever we raise to be a success,” Cobb said, “because in the process we’ve raised awareness.”

Cobb praised the city of Edmond for leading the way in bringing awareness to the community about what can be done to minimize substance abuse. For example, she said, Edmond was the first municipality in the state of Oklahoma to pass the social host law.

University of Central Oklahoma students taking a public relations campaign class helped plan the walk for their fall semester 2008 class project, Cobb said. The students conducted surveys and research, designed the walk logo, named the walk and presented a master plan that has been implemented by the Parents Helping Parents board of directors.

At Parents Helping Parents meetings, organizers and speakers help educate parents to notice the signs of substance abuse in their homes and in their schools. In adolescents, Cobb said, the progression from casual use to addiction can take as little as six months.

“Parents need to get on board quickly,” she said.

The confidential parent group meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month in the community room of the Oklahoma Blood Institute at 33rd and Broadway.

Vist www.rockthewalk.info for donation forms and early registration. Walk-day registration begins at 8 a.m. at the Mitch Park large pavilion reached by taking the Marilyn Williams Drive entrance off Covell Road.

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