St. Regis School joined hundreds of other schools across the nation for “Kick Butts Day” March 15. Student advocates performed a flash mob for younger students during lunch in the cafeteria. Their message was “Remember to love yourself and a healthy body too much to use tobacco”.

According to public health nurse, Barb Jasper, students signed their names to a sign pledging “I love me to much to use tobacco”.

Students, along with school Tiger mascots, dance around the tables in the cafeteria to bring awareness to the dangers of tobacco use. Sarah Etter and Tammy Lowry helped to coordinate and choreograph the event.

“Tobacco companies even make their products look like candy or flavor them to taste good, but don’t be fooled, tobacco is not good for you,” stated Kick Butts campaign material. “Tobacco cause lots of diseases, like heart and lung problems and other kinds of cancer. The longer you smoke, the worse the damages becomes.”

Jasper hopes to have a similar activity in the Superior school later this month, “each year with funds from the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program, the Mineral County Health Department attempts to organize and encourage activities that make teens and youth aware that tobacco companies target young people specifically to get them hooked on tobacco products at a young age.”