PRIDE Bermuda’s 14th annual red ribbon campaign will take place this week, with a focus on supporting students and community coalition building.“Our goal with this year’s red ribbon campaign is to raise awareness of our student assistance programmes and to call on the community to work more closely with prevention agencies to prevent drug abuse and violence,” said Judith Burgess, PRIDE Bermuda’s Executive Director.“The wide-reaching and devastating effects of drug and alcohol abuse among young people must be more widely understood, including mental health illnesses, poor academic performance, increased incidences of violence and long-term socio-economic issues.“We believe that by talking to young people, and working with them on a psychoeducational level, we can help our children choose a drug-free lifestyle early on. In order to be successful however, we need the community’s support.”This year’s campaign will kick off with lunch in Par-la-Ville Park in Hamilton at 1.30pm on Wednesday. The Governor, Mayor and other dignitaries will open the event, followed by speeches and entertainment from PRIDE students, alumni and friends.The first 150 people to show up wearing red will be treated to a free brown bag lunch.On Friday, PRIDE is asking the public to wear red ribbons in support of young people and drug prevention.“As this year is PRIDE Bermuda’s 25th anniversary, we are hoping to make 2011’s red ribbon campaign the most successful yet,” said Mrs Burgess.For more information about the campaign, or to get involved, call PRIDE Bermuda on 295-9970 or e-mail info[AT]pride.prevention.bm.Useful website: www.pridebermuda.bm