News and Events

Dixie County Students Working Against Tobacco to Host a 5K Walk/Run to Promote Healthy Lifestyles, Tobacco Cessation
December 11 , 2014

The Dixie County High School Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT), the Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County, and the Dixie County Anti-Drug Coalition will be holding the Dixie Twilight Walk/Run 5k on December 20th, 2014. The race event will start on the Dixie County High School campus. 

The SWAT officers have been planning a 5k for over a year.  The SWAT youth want to promote healthy lifestyles and getting active as an alternative to tobacco use.  Based on the 2012 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey, over 18% of Dixie County High School students have reported being obese, at or above the 95th percentile for body mass index by age and sex. Along with this data, the SWAT youth noted that the Dixie County High School students ranked higher than the state average rates of use of Smokeless Tobacco, Exposure to Secondhand Smoke, and Smoking Allowed in the Home.  A change in the social norm for tobacco use could be tied to the need for more physical activities that encourage healthy lifestyles. 

The SWAT youth shared with the Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County the need to conduct this 5k walk /run, and has built ongoing support from the Dixie County Anti-Drug Coalition and several local businesses and community groups that plan to advertise for the 5k event and to donate time, money and/or promotional items for the goody bags for participants of the 5k. 

DCHS 5K Glow Run

The Dixie County High School Administration has given approval for this event to be held as a night time walk/run starting at the Dixie County High School Football Field and then leading to the Florida State Park managed Natural Trail. 

The Dixie County SWAT Officers would like to give a special thank you to Mr. Steve Felty for assisting in the organization of the event and for furnishing many items such as cups, water bottles, signs, course map, First Aid kit, tables, coolers, trash cans and much more.

The SWAT officers decided to hold the 5k as a Glow Run on December the 20th in advance of the New Year and the Holiday rush to help promote tobacco cessation resources and tobacco prevention during the upcoming quit season tied with the New Year’s Resolutions.

The cost to particpate is $20.00 for adults, and $10.00 for students. If you want to participate, you will need to complete a Registration Form and a Liability Waiver.  You can also download a map of the course here.

For more information, visit the Event Page on the Tobacco Free Partnership Facebook Page, or contact Melanie Anderson at manderson@quitdoc.com.