Bringing awareness to alcohol and drug abuse programs among elementary and middle school children through proactive education is the goal of Red Ribbon Week, said Sparkle Greenhaw, associate director at the TCU Alcohol and Drug Education Center.A Red Ribbon Week Rally, hosted by Student Development Services and Tarrant County Challenge, Inc. will be held at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum Friday.

“We had over 2,000 elementary and high school students at the rally last year, and we are expecting even more this year,” Greenhaw said.

The Challenge Coalition strives to increase community awareness through education, support school district prevention efforts and organize countrywide awareness events, according to its Web site, www.tcchallenge.org.

“Red Ribbon Week is a time to increase youth participation in the community and school-based drug prevention programs,” said Brittany Hafner, a senior middle school education major.

Hafner is a member of Hyperfrogs, the peer assistance organization on campus that is involved in Red Ribbon Week.

Hyperfrogs is hosting its own event to promote abstinence from drugs and alcohol in the Brown-Lupton Student Center around noon Thursday.

“Hyperfrogs promotes abstinence from drugs and alcohol, and that is why we participate in Red Ribbon Week,” Hafner said.

Hyperfrogs is putting on a “TCU Squares” program that will test faculty and students’ knowledge on drugs and alcohol, Hafner said.

“The most important message for students to take away from the event is that if they are going to consume alcohol, they should do it in a safe manner,” Hafner said.

The Tarrant County Red Ribbon Week Rally begins at 9:30 a.m. Friday.