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Show - ' . . m: . ' I 1 ,.. .f, L. J . - ' "" ' , , ,Lt " TAM NATIONAL GU " I . j f r '' f .,,MMU,,WMJ... i I j BOROER-TO-BOSr ' f -A BIKATHON ' - ---- - -ivO Some 22 bicyclists, all members of Utah's National Border-to-Border Bike-a-thon. They travel from Guard are peddling their way from Idaho to the community to community teaching Utah's school Arizona border as they participate in their Annual students about the dangers of drugs and violence. Utah National Guard Bikers Visit Escalante & Bryce Valley Students TROPIC Arriving in black spandex riding shorts and colorful jerseys emblazoned with names of various sponsors, some 22 National Na-tional Guard bicyclists rolled into the town of Tropic Monday around lunch time. The group was participating in the Utah National Guard's 5th Annual Border to Border Bikathon to deliver "Drug and Violence Free" messages to the youth at local area schools. They divided their group into two teams and began their day at 8:30 a.m. at both Boulder and Escalante Elementary Ele-mentary Schools, arriving in Bryce Valley at noon. They departed near the Utah-Idaho Utah-Idaho border town of Franklin, Ida. on Sept. 14 and will end their trek Sept. 23. Riders deliver a message of being drug and violence free through alternative "natural highs" such as cycling. Over 40 Guard members and civilian riders rid-ers will be pedaling more than 900 miles across the state visiting with over 95,000 students. Cyclists will speak to youth about the harmful effects of illegal ille-gal drugs and inspire them to i pledge a healthy life, free from drugs and violence. Schools are conducting assemblies as-semblies and rallies where students stu-dents have been encouraged to sign wallet-sized drug-free pledge cards along with "Drug and Violence Vio-lence Free" pledge flags. Schools with the most participation partici-pation will send representatives to present their flags to Governor Michael O. Leavitt during official ribbon week ceremonies at the state capitol at 4 p.m. on Oct. 16. The flags will be on display in the capitol rotunda. |