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Scientologists Complete 4th Annual
Marathon for a Drug-Free Hungary
The Hungarian marathon team running through the local streets on their annual run.
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Everywhere they went, the Scientology runners for a drug-free Hungary, gave anti-drug lectures and encouraged the people to live drug-free lives.
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The runners would have the local children swear to live drug-free lives and to tell their friends and family to do the same.
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Local mayors signed the drug-free pledge and gave their full support to the runners in each town visited.
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Scientologists in Hungary have completed the 4th annual “Marathon for a Drug-Free Hungary,” running 2,086 kilometers through 30 cities and villages and giving drug awareness lectures to 6,559 individuals in 102 schools.
This marathon has become an annual tradition for the Church of Scientology in Hungary, and is supported by MPs, mayors, police and government officials. Patrons for this year’s event include the Deputy Police Chief for Hungary, the President of the National Civil Guard, National Crime Prevention and several Olympic champions.
The purpose of the marathon is to raise public awareness of the dangers of drugs and to encourage youth in particular to live drug-free lives. A core group of ten runners took part in the 42-day event. More than 35 mayors throughout the country welcomed them and in total eight “Drug Prevention Days” were proclaimed in Hungarian towns.
The marathon was launched in April in Budapest in front of the Hungarian parliament. A Member of Parliament, the head of the National Civil Guard and three Olympic champions officially launched the event and sent the runners on their way. They were accompanied by a four-man police motorbike escort and a flatbed truck on which a dance troupe performed for onlookers.
In addition to communicating a serious message to youth to steer clear of drug misuse, the marathon team enjoyed many lighter moments. At one point they were joined by runners from a sprint club whose youngest member is 56 years old. Unknown to the marathon team at the time, the club competes in more than a dozen marathons annually and its 78-year-old leader is the undefeated world champion in the Seniors’ Marathon. Far from slowing progress as the marathon team had expected at first, the new runners picked up the pace considerably.
After circling the country, the marathon team arrived back in Budapest in time for the closing event, which was attended by more than 500 people. Musicians and singers provided entertainment, while a parliamentary expert on drugs welcomed the team’s return and praised the Church of Scientology
for their effectiveness in promoting drug awareness.
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