This years theme, "Life is a puzzle, solve it drug-free"

The Cincinnati Young Marines are hosting their Fourth Annual Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) 5k to spread awareness. This is a time where schools, businesses, the faith community, media, families, and community coalitions join together to celebrate the value of a drug-free, healthy lifestyle. As a program for the youth of our nation ages 8-18, our primary focus is on Anti-Drug education followed by character & leadership development, community service, volunteerism, and veterans' service. As a program we strive to teach the youth how the use of drugs socially or under peer pressure can lead to bigger issues. The youth are given the opportunity to provide drug education to the community, participate in community events, and empower other youth and families to say "No."

The proceeds from this race will be used to continue and enhance community efforts/outreach as well as continue education programs for the Youth in our unit and community.

The run kicks off the annual Nationally recognized Red Ribbon Week where more than 80 million people participate in Red Ribbon events each year. The campaign is a unified way for Young Marines and communities to take a stand against drugs and show intolerance for illicit drug use and the consequences that these illegal substances cause to all Americans.

ADDITIONAL RACE INFORMATION

PARKING

There is ample parking at the Kestrel Point Shelter in Winton Woods Park

EVENT DAY TIMELINE

9:30 AM: Race day registration begins

10:40 AM: DASH KICKOFF

11:00 AM: DDR Dash Start

CINCINNATI YOUNG MARINES

https://youtu.be/ICTUYmH9FHo

KIKI CAMARENA'S STORY- RED RIBBON WEEK

Enrique (Kiki) S. Camarena was born on July 26, 1947, in Mexicali, Mexico. He graduated from Calexico High School in Calexico, California in 1966, and in 1968 he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After serving in the Marine Corps for two years, Kiki was a Calexico fireman, Calexico police officer, and an Imperial County Deputy Sheriff. Kiki joined the Drug Enforcement Administration in June of 1974. His first assignment as a Special Agent with DEA was in a familiar place - Calexico, California.

In 1977, after three years in Calexico, he was reassigned to the Fresno District Office in Northern California. Four years later, Kiki received transfer orders to Mexico, where he would work out of the Guadalajara Resident Office. For more than four years in Mexico, Kiki remained on the trail of the country's biggest marijuana and cocaine traffickers. In early 1985, he was extremely close to unlocking a multi-billion dollar drug pipeline. However, before he was able to expose the drug trafficking operations to the public, he was kidnapped on February 7, 1985. On that fateful day, while headed to a luncheon with his wife, Mika, Kiki was surrounded by five armed men who threw him into a car and sped away. That was the last time anyone but his kidnappers would see him alive.

It is believed that Special Agent Camarena's death actually occurred two days later, but his body was not discovered until March 5, 1985. He was 37 years old and was survived by his wife Mika and their three childrenEnrique, Daniel, and Erik. During his 11 years with DEA, Kiki received two Sustained Superior Performance Awards, a Special Achievement Award and, posthumously, the Administrators Award of Honor, the highest award granted by DEA.

Red Ribbon Week eventually gained momentum throughout California and later across the United States. In 1985, club members presented the "Camarena Club Proclamation" to then First Lady Nancy Reagan, bringing it national attention. Later that summer, parent groups in California, Illinois, and Virginia began promoting the wearing of red ribbons nationwide during late October. The campaign was then formalized in 1988 by the National Family Partnership, with President and Mrs. Reagan serving as honorary chairpersons. Today, the eight-day celebration is an annual catalyst to show intolerance for drugs in our schools, workplaces, and communities. Each year, on October 23-31, more than 80 million young people and adults show their commitment to a healthy, drug-free lifestyle by wearing or displaying the red ribbon.