The annual event encourages youth of all ages to take a stand against the use of tobacco. The walkathon will begin at noon on Wednesday, April 2 at the MUW Bryan Green Gazebo.

“Many local officials as well as area businesses will be on hand to support the event. We hope to get the message out that tobacco use is harmful to your health and if you stop for one day, you can `kick' the habit,” said Todd Liddell, director of the Partnership for a Healthy Golden Triangle.

Tobacco companies spent more than 8.24 billion dollars nationwide to hook people on their products, according to research, which also shows youth are three times more sensitive to tobacco advertising than adults and one third of underage experimentation with smoking is a result of tobacco company marketing. Additionally, 90 percent of those killed by tobacco started smoking before the age of 18.

According to the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, even for nonsmokers, reduced smoking rates mean a better quality of life because Mississippi taxpayers spend an estimated $320 million in taxes to sue tobacco related healthcare costs.

The walk will be divided into a quarter mile, one mile and two-mile increments to allow individuals to determine their personal level of participation. Refreshment stations will be set up along the route to provide bottled water, fruit and other pick-me-up items.