Morgan students attend Regional Raze On

Students from 11 schools in Berkeley, Jefferson, Hampshire, and Morgan Counties traveled to Musselman High School on October 8 for Regional Raze On. Students represented the following schools: Martinsburg High, Musselman High, Musselman Middle, Hedges-ville High, Hedgesville Middle, Berkeley Springs High, South Middle, Hampshire High, Capon Bridge Middle, Jefferson High and Paw Paw. More than 50 students and 14 adults turned out for the daylong event that trains members of Raze, the statewide teen empowered tobacco prevention organization.

Students learned not only the effects of tobacco, but also how to utilize the Raze website, recruit new members and commotions. A special presentation was done by Tony Richards from the American Lung Association on Asthma. Educating about Asthma is one of the goals for Raze members this year.

"It's great to see so many teens involved in this organization. They are so passionate about their cause," said

Donna Kuhn, RESA VIII Regional Tobacco Prevention Specialist.

These new skills will be utilized throughout the school

year locally. Raze crews will also participate at various statewide events such as Tobacco Free Day at the Capitol, Through with Chew Week, Kick Butts Day and the Great American Smoke Out. These events allow teens to have their voices heard.

Tobacco use among teens is on the decline, but teens know how important it is to sustain and continue the fight. Nearly 90 percent of smokers begin at or before the age of 18 and more than five million kids under the age of 18 in the United States are regular smokers. More than a third of all kids who ever try smoking a cigarette become regular daily smokers before leaving high school.

Since its inception in 2001, nearly 10,000 teens have joined Raze in its fight against tobacco. Currently, there are more than 140 crews throughout the state in all 55 counties.

Students attending from Paw Paw were Kristin Bradford, Sierra Hott, Brittany Kidwell, Lisa Mario, Dylan Rowzee and Caitlin Shambaugh. Jessica Close, Amanda Corrick, Alissa Duvall, Tiffany Remsburg, Jennifer Schuman and Robert Taylor represented Berkeley Springs High School.

Adults who attended the training and are serving as RAZE advisors this year are:

Paw Paw School: Taunie Faidley-Buckely and Berkeley Springs High: Elizabeth Ramsey.

For more information about Raze, visit www.razewv.com, contact the Regional Tobacco Prevention Specialist, Donna Kuhn at djkuhn@access.k12. wv.us.