Young Marines Hosting 8th Annual Drug Prevention 5K

The Young Marines are hosting the 8th annual Drug Demand Reduction 5K Dash at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico on Saturday.

The race will be the kickoff event for Red Ribbon Week — which runs from Oct. 23 to Oct. 31 — a nationwide drug prevention and awareness initiative. Nationwide, Young Marines will begin a week of activities to prevent the use of drugs with National Family Partnership, the founders of Red Ribbon Week in 1985.

The 5K commemorates the death of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a former Drug Enforcement Administration agent who was killed in Mexico in 1985 in his quest to get drugs off America’s streets.

“Through the Go Red for Red Ribbon Week initiative, we are reaching out to community and state leaders to encourage the lighting of public landmarks in red to raise public awareness and promote a drug-free lifestyle,” Col. William P. Davis, USMC (Ret), national executive director and CEO of the Young Marines, said in a press release. “Now, more than ever, we remain steadfastly committed to our drug prevention and resistance efforts within our program and sharing it with everyone across the U.S. It is a vital part of our overall mission.”

The race starts at 8 a.m. Registration before Saturday is $25, and registration on race day is $30 and is required. Participants must arrive approximately one hour before the race to register. Live race results will be available.

Several other events will be happening across the country to commemorate Red Ribbon Week by the Young Marines.