WASHINGTON CITY – The Washington County Youth Coalition hosted the Kick Butts Day kickball tournament Wednesday at the Washington City ball fields.
The Kick Butts Day tournament is aimed at informing teens about the dangers of tobacco and nicotine, and was organized by several youth groups including Washington County Youth Coalition, Island Teens Against Tobacco, and Workforce Initiative Act Youth.
Kaysha Price, a health educator for the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, said the event is a collaborative effort held for educational reasons, and in support of an initiative for smoke-free parks in Washington City.
“Washington Youth Coalition is trying to work with Washington City to obtain an outdoor ordinance,” she said, which would ban smoking in public parks.
Currently, the city has a resolution against smoking in parks, but the group would like it to become an enforceable ordinance.
“One of our biggest messages is to let people know that we’re not against the smoker, we’re just here as a resource to prevent teen smokers,” Price said. “But also we have materials here for cessation, for those that do smoke and maybe want to quit the habit.”
“Kick Butt Day is actually a nationwide event,” Abbie Dickie, a 16-year-old Snow Canyon High School student, said. “There are people throughout the entire country joining in; we do different projects and activities for the youth and as teens to show our voice, and to try and make a difference and make people more aware of the dangers of tobacco, cigarettes and alcohol.”
The event was open to seven local high schools, for youth ages 14-21. Five teams registered for the event, which was single elimination with free T-shirts, and prizes for winners and best anti-tobacco team name.
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