CANTON, NC – The North Carolina Spit Tobacco Education Program (STEP) is proud to announce that fans have selected Madison’s Dalton Ledbetter as the N.C. STEP All-Star of the Year.  For two weeks, fans voted online at www.TheSportsFlash.com for the N.C. STEP “No Spit” All-Star of the Year that honors the best high school football player in the state who has pledged not to use spit tobacco or any tobacco products – on and off the field!

 

Ledbetter won the week one N.C. STEP “No Spit” All-Star of the Week after making seven receptions for 182 yards with four touchdowns while returning a punt for a 54-yard score in a 37-13 win over Rosman.  As a weekly winner, Ledbetter was a finalist for the N.C. STEP “No Spit” All-Star of the Year honor.  Ledbetter received 5,284 votes with Panther Creek’s Jonathan Douglas receiving 4,620 votes to finish second.  Eastern Guilford’s Jamil Lee finished third with 4,601 votes. 

 

Each finalist has pledged not to use smokeless tobacco, understanding that smokeless does not mean harmless, as spit tobacco contains more than 28 cancer-causing agents.  These cancer-causing agents are present in cigarettes, cigars, smoke, and all forms of smokeless tobacco, including spit, snuff, and chew.  The nominees have made the healthy lifestyle choice not to use spit tobacco.

 

In the Oral Health America 2006 Spit Tobacco Report Card, the nation received a “D” for the use of spit tobacco.  That means between 12 to 20 percent of all high school males in the country have used spit tobacco in the last 30 days.  The campaign intends to educate young people in North Carolina about the dangers of spit tobacco and reinforce the healthy, lifestyle choice not to use tobacco products, especially spit tobacco.

 

NC STEP is an effort designed to educate North Carolinians about the dangers of spit tobacco.  Each year, between 10 to 16 million Americans put their health at risk by using spit tobacco.  NC STEP’s mission is to prevent people, especially young people, from starting to use spit tobacco.  For more information about NC STEP, please contact Paul Turner at (828) 648-1211.

 

The North Carolina Spit Tobacco Education Program (STEP) is funded through a grant from the North Carolina Health Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF). The NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund makes North Carolina stronger, both physically and economically, by funding programs that promote preventive health. Created by the General Assembly in 2000 to allocate a portion of North Carolina's share of the national tobacco settlement, HWTF has invested $199 million to support preventive health initiatives and $102 million to fund prescription drug assistance programs. For more information, please visit www.HealthWellNC.com.

Madison’s Dalton Ledbetter voted N.C. STEP All-Star of the Year