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Uniting To Stay Healthy

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By PAUL CATALA, Tribune correspondent

Published: October 6, 2007

Updated: 10/04/2007 11:09 pm

TAMPA - Nine-year-old Brandon Maxwell's usual Saturday morning routine includes getting up, eating and watching cartoons.

Sept. 29 was a bit different. Instead, he was up earlier than usual, walking outside with other children united in the fight against illegal drug use.

Brandon, a third-grader at Berkeley Preparatory School, was one of about 6,000 participants in the 22nd Too Good for Drugs Walk & Kidfest.

In its second year at the Museum of Science & Industry, the event featured a 1-mile walk around the museum grounds. Before last year, the event was held at Lowry Park Zoo, but it outgrew its facilities.

The highlight of the walk was the annual banner contest, in which children representing area schools and community organizations displayed banners with drug abuse prevention messages such as 'We Are Clean & Healthy' and 'Mission Possible ... A Future Without Drugs.'

After the walk, participants were able to get free bottles of water and visit booths and displays inside and outside the museum at no charge.

Charles Mendez, president of the Mendez Foundation, said the festival allows his foundation to expand beyond school walls. He said that each year, the Too Good festival gets better and more people get involved.

'We're trying to teach kids to grow up and be healthy. This is a program where everyone is supporting positive activities,' he said. 'It's wonderful. This is all part of a process involving children and parents and the support of the community.'

Among the sponsors with informational materials and interactive activities, such as card and button making and face painting, were Students Working Against Tobacco, the Department of Children and Families and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Suzanne Kinman, Mendez Foundation marketing coordinator, said this year's festival was one of the biggest. She said that in addition to local schools, three schools from Georgia - two in Bainbridge and one in Colquitt - made trips to get involved.

'The cool thing about this is that we really have a lot of school involvement. They're eager every year to come and participate,' she said.

Inside the museum, children scurried from exhibits to booths, trying to find maximum entertainment.

Brandon, who visited from Westchase with his mother, Michele McKenna, said he had fun making a T-shirt and button but also enjoyed seeing MOSI's exhibits.

'My mom saw this in the newspaper, and I wanted to come out. They're trying to tell us that illegal drugs aren't a good part of your health,' he said.
BANNER CONTEST WINNERS

Elementary: First, Lake Magdalene Elementary; second, Northwest Elementary; third, Mitchell Elementary

Secondary: First, Memorial Middle; second, Coleman Middle; third, Greco Middle

Agency/organization: First, Cub Scout Den 7 - Pack 217; second, Kate Jackson Center for Girls; third, Brownie Troop 628

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