Released on: January 31, 2008, 9:59 am

Press Release Author: Chris Alexander/Race Director, Say No to Drugs Holiday Classic
Race

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: The Judge requested complimentary entry forms for the Say No
to Drugs Holiday Classic Race for members of a Goodwill Drug Treatment Facility as a
way to reinforce their accomplishments.

Press Release Body: Clearwater, FL, December 20, 2007 - When Clearwater Criminal
Judge Dee Anna Farnell called the Say No To Drugs Holiday Classic 5K/10K co-race
director Chris Alexander for complimentary entries for members of the St. Petersburg
Goodwill Treatment Facility, the answer was a resounding yes. Twenty members of the
drug-rehab facility arrived in downtown Clearwater at 7:30am on Saturday December
15th, got their t-shirts and goody bags and ran the race - giving them the sense of
accomplishment, as well as the sensation of getting a natural high, without the use
of drugs.

Following the race, the runners partook in the famous made-from-scratch pancake
awards breakfast at the historic Fort Harrison Hotel. The runners were \"sworn in\" as
Drug-Free Marshals by local school children who are were already members of the
youth drug-education & prevention campaign.

The Say No to Drugs Holiday Classic was started almost 20 years ago by Sandra
Johnson of the Church of Scientology. In 1992, Sue Minkoff became the Race Director
and was then joined by Chris Alexander in 1998. The two have co-produced the race
ever since. The Say No To Drugs Race has become a local favorite, drawing up to over
800 runners annually, all for the purpose of raising drug awareness as well as money
for charities such as the Youth for a Drug Free Florida, the West Florida Y
Runner\'s Club Scholarship Fund and local Boy & Girl Scout Chapter.

The race has been rumored to be popular amongst elite runners because of its fast 5k
& 10k courses through Clearwater Beach, finishing at Pier 60. There is a prize purse
for the top finishers in both races as well as many raffle items for finishers plus
gift bags packed with goodies and cool T-shirts designed by local graphic artist,
Alicia Suarez, for all participants.

This year, over 150 volunteers participated in the race and post-race activities.
And there were over 800 registered runners (the highest registration for the race to
date). The top winners are listed as follows:

10K top five male winners:
31:43 Tyrone Bell, from Lakeland
33:52 Lee Stephens, from Tampa
34:02 Jeff Weber, from Clearwater
34:11 Craig Schmidt, from Zephyrhills
34:58 Spencer Smith, from Palm Harbor

10K top five female winners:
37:33 Melanie Peters, from St. Petersburg
37:35 Jacki Wachtel, from Tarpon Springs
39:40 Dana Parrot, from Tampa
40:36 Jennifer Grimes, from Sarasota
42:06 Terri Rejimbal, from Mount Dora

5K Overall Winners:
Male 16:40 Owen Shott, from Jacksonville
Female17:59 Christa Benton, from St. Petersburg

"This is a real community event," said Minkoff. "From the Clearwater Police , who
provides several dozen officers to keep the runners safe from motorists, to the 150+
volunteers as well as the local business sponsors - we couldn't put on this race
with out them."

Among this year's many business sponsors was Starbucks.


About the 19th Annual Dianetics \"Say No to Drugs\" Holiday Classic 5k/10k running race:
The 'Say No To Drugs' Holiday Classic Race was started in 1988 by world-class runner
and Scientologist Sandra Johnson, who was the captain of the Dianetics Running Team
at the time. She got her inspiration by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard who wrote
extensively on the subject of drugs and developed an extremely effective drug
rehabilitation method which is currently in use all over the world. The race
advocates healthy and drug-free living and supports many organizations with proceeds
from the race such as the Boy and Girl Scouts of America, Drug Free Marshals and the
most effective drug rehabilitation organization in the world, Narconon. For more
information visit www.saynotodrugs.com


Web Site: http://www.saynotodrugs.com

Contact Details: Chris Alexander
Race Director, Say No to Drugs Holiday Classic Race
racedir@saynotodrugs.com
http://www.saynotodrugs.com