Young actress to serve as keynote speaker for 33rd Annual Walk Against Drugs
Kayden Tokarski, a 12-year local actress who is starring in several films including "My Melancholy Baby" on Amazon Prime Video and has appeared on shows like "The Mandalorian," is this year's keynote speaker for the Walk Against Drugs.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department and City of Mission Viejo will host the 33rd Annual Walk Against Drugs from 8 am to noon on Saturday, October 16. The event is designed to unite the community in staying drug free and embracing a healthy lifestyle.
In the last two years since starting her acting career, Kayden, a 7th grader in the Capistrano Unified School District, has starred in 12 films including the soon-to-be-released "Unloaded" with Niko Guardado of "The Goldbergs" and "Party of Five." More recently, Kayden filmed a significant role on a television series and booked a role on a television pilot. Earlier this year, she was a "celebrity" spokesperson for a Red Cross fundraiser that also featured Mario Lopez.
"Even at my age, I've already seen kids walking down the wrong path with drugs, vaping and alcohol," she said. "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."
In a shift from past walks, this year's event starts at the southernmost stretch of the Village Green - in front of the Norman P. Murray Community Center - and follows this designated path through the Oso Creek Trail. The walk ends at its original starting point on the Village Green. Participants can arrive any time between 8-11 am to enjoy the route individually or in groups.
Throughout the walk, participants can interact with various specialty units from the Orange County Sheriff's Department, Orange County Fire Authority and other community partners while raising awareness about drug-use prevention.
The walk is for all ages, and youth in grades K-12 are encouraged to sport red T-shirts in honor of Red Ribbon Week in October.
Stay tuned to the City's eNewsletter and social media sites for more details about the event.