More than 600 students from eleven Sudbury Catholic Schools participated in the Racing Against Drugs (RAD) event at the Lionel Lalonde Centre in Azilda recently. RAD is a community-based drug, alcohol and tobacco awareness program offering different learning opportunities, (racing pit stops) from police, public health, addictions agencies and numerous other community partners.

The car racing also afforded students the ability to take part in numerous “hands on” interactive teaching events such as Day Construction’s Driving Simulator, the Sudbury and District Health Unit’s Impaired Goggles, and a Racing Slot Car Track. As the students moved through 11 pits stops or teaching events they learned about the consequences of “drinking and driving,” driving too fast, the effects of alcohol drugs and tobacco on the body as well as its legal and social consequences. The students were also introduced to educational modules on nutrition, diet, physical fitness and motivational sessions to inspire them to make the right leisure and social activity choices.

The purpose of the drug education initiative is to utilize the sport of auto racing to capture the attention of young people and communicate with them through an exciting and high profile sport (such as auto racing) which has no tolerance for substance abuse. Students raced each other by remote control on 1:24 slot car race track with the winner of the day’s event winning a bike for their school.

Sudbury Catholic Schools would like to thank the following service groups, corporations and agencies for supporting the Racing Against Drugs Event. ATV Safety, EMS (Bike Safety), Day Construction (Driving Simulator), Healthy Choices, Megan McGrath, (Positive Role Models), Greater Sudbury Police Services, Sudbury Action Committee for Youth, (SACY) Sudbury and District Health Unit, the City of Greater Sudbury Fire Department, Ministry of Transportation, (MTO) and the Racing Slot Car Track.