Church of Scientology of Budapest Sponsors The Fifth Annual Hungarian Anti-Drug Marathon

Children in each town joined the athletes in their cross-country run against drugs.

A dedicated team of Scientologists have gained support from all sectors of Hungarian society to bring about a Drug-Free Hungary. With the completion of the Fifth Annual Anti-Drug Marathon they have brought the message to towns and cities throughout the country to "Say NO to Drugs."

It takes dedication to run the 26.2 miles or 42 kilometers of a marathon. But these athletes were not content to run just one such event — they wanted to reach all the youth of Hungary. So for 42 days they crisscrossed the country visiting towns and cities in 19 counties and covering 2088 kilometers — the equivalent of nearly 50 marathons.

Beginning with their opening event — a concert at the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest — the runners were welcomed in town after town by mayors, officials and entire schools. And in each town the marathoners gave drug-education lectures in schools and town squares, passed out booklets giving the truth about drugs and swore in children to be Drug-Free Marshals, a program where children pledge not to take drugs and to help their friends make the same decision.

In the town of Fuzesabony the Under-Secretary of the Ministry for Youth, Family Affairs, Social and Equal Opportunity gave his thanks to the marathoners for the work they are doing and the mayor of the town, who organized a whole series of events for the team, laced up his own running shoes and joined the race.

In Kiskunhalas the Mayor took his own drug-free pledge alongside hundreds of children from his town. In Szolnok, Natasa Janics, Hungarian Olympic kayak world champion and the entire kayak team endorsed the program.

For five weeks the 2006 Hungarian Anti-Drug Marathon athletes carried out their mission to spread the word about drugs and promote drug-free living. Through their actions they touched the lives of thousands of Hungarian youth who have made the commitment to "Say NO to Drugs."

In every town they visited the Hungarian Anti-Drug Marathon team swore the children in as Drug-Free Marshals.

Thousands of teens and children took to the streets to show their support of a drug-free Hungary.