“Run for Your Life” is a 5k competition where individuals and groups run or walk in support of anyone who has been affected by opioid use. Whether you have been personally affected, know someone who has been affected, or are just supporting the cause, this 5k supports the scholarship fund to send Alachua high school youth coalition members to the CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) National Leadership Forum to make a positive lasting change to the opioid epidemic.
The HPW Coalition seeks to improve both individual and community quality of life through diverse community partnerships formed to strengthen health-related programs, activities, and advocacy in Alachua County. This year, HPW Coalition will be hosting our first annual Run for Your Life 5K family friendly color run to benefit opioid awareness and help those affected by opioids.
Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, and more. The use of these drugs has risen to exorbitant levels and can lead to addiction and death. In fact, 115 Americans die every day after overdose with around 55,000 people dying in 2016 alone.
All money raised from this event will go toward sending HPW high school youth coalition members to the 2019 CADCA conference. The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America National Leadership Forum is a four-day conference packed with multiple adult and youth-oriented opportunities to learn the latest strategies to fight substance abuse and hear from nationally-known experts and policymakers with a full day dedicated to Capitol Hill events. The Forum will be held February 4-7, 2019 in the Washington, DC area and brings together more than 2,700 participants representing community anti-drug coalitions, government leaders, youth, addiction treatment professionals, researchers, educators, law enforcement professionals, youth and faith-based leader.
Join us on September 15, 2018 at Depot Park to run for those who are or have been affected by the opioid epidemic in our community!
