Mission Viejo 'Walk Against Drugs' To Feature Local Actress

MISSION VIEJO, CA — The 33rd Annual Walk Against Drugs will feature a Laguna Niguel actress who has graced screens big and small, including "My Melancholy Baby" on Amazon Prime video and shows like "The Mandalorian." Twelve-year-old Kayden Tokarski will be the keynote speaker for this annual event taking place Oct. 16.

The City of Mission Viejo announced Tokarski's attendance in a statement released Wednesday.

“Even at my age, I’ve already seen kids walking down the wrong path with drugs, vaping and alcohol,” Tokarski said in the statement. “It’s been a wakeup call to see this because I think it’s easy for us to forget that just because we live in beautiful South Orange County, get good grades and have big dreams, we are not immune to the influence of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. But what we do have is power. The power to say NO.”

The annual Walk Against Drugs is hosted by the City of Mission Viejo and the Orange County Sheriff's Department. The event is held in order to unite the community in staying drug-free and embracing healthy lifestyles. This year, the walk will start at the southernmost stretch of the Village Green in front of the Norman P. Murray Community Center. A designated path will be followed through Oso Creek Trail, and the walk will end at its original starting point. Residents are encouraged to join in on the walk individually or in groups.

During the walk, residents can engage with deputies from OCSD, the Orange County Fire Authority and other community partners while raising awareness about drug-prevention. Community members of all ages are invited to attend, and youth in grades K-12 are encouraged to don red T-shirts in honor of Red Ribbon Week in October.

The 33rd Annual Walk Against Drugs takes place from 8 a.m. to noon, and more information can be found on the city's website.