As part of Red Ribbon Week, a week when alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and violence prevention is observed annually in the United States, Marshall County Drug and Tobacco Free has brought a motivational speaker to talk to thousands of school age children and the public.
Todd Crandell had a 13 year struggle with drugs and alcohol and it nearly destroyed his life, devastating relationship with family and friends and shattering the promise of a professional hockey career.
In the process of rebuilding his life, Crandell realized traditional recovery programs weren’t always enough to help people refocus their addictive drives into positive actions. In his pursuit of recovery, he applied his energy to pursue the most grueling sport imaginable, the Iron-man™ triathlon. In 1999 he ran his first triathlon and has never looked back.
Through his pursuit of extreme physical fitness and personal well-being, Crandell found a productive outlet for his once-negative energies, transforming himself into a world-class athlete and champion for sobriety.
In 2001, his experience with running triathlon events and see how it inspired others on their road to sobriety, led Crandell to form the non-profit organization Racing for Recovery.
This week and next Todd Crandell will be speaking to all Marshall County schools with students in grades 7 through 12. His week begins today speaking to Knox middle and high school students and at Oregon Davis. On Tuesday he will be at Plymouth High School and Lincoln Junior High. Students at Triton and LaVille High Schools will hear Crandell on Wednesday and then Thursday morning he will be on WTCA’s What’s Your Opinion Show about 9:30 and that afternoon he will head to North Judson.
Next week he will be at the Argos High School in the morning on October 27th and in the evening at 6 Marshall County Drug and Tobacco Free will sponsor will host a public awareness event for the community.
On Tuesday the 28th students at the Urey Middle School, John Glenn High School and Culver High School will have convocations and on Wednesday he will be at Bremen High School.
