Remon Fayad, 24, will give up alcohol for the month of October to help raise funds for Life Education. Monday, 24 September 2012. Picture: Gene Ramirez.
REMON Fayad will turn his back on alcohol all of next month.
Not because he is a teetotaller but because he is taking part in Ocsober, which raises money for Life Education to continue providing health and drug education programs in schools.
Mr Fayad described himself a ‘‘big party animal’’ who quickly raised $6500 when he stopped drinking.
He hopes to raise $7000.
‘‘I didn’t realise people are dying from either legal or illegal drugs every 24 minutes,’’ he said.
He said it shocked him to learn more than 20 per cent of 14 to 19-year-olds consume alcohol on a weekly basis, according to the 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.
And that teenagers who start drinking before the age of 15 are five times more likely to become dependent on alcohol than those who start when they are 21.
‘‘Definitely get involved,’’ Mr Fayad said.
‘‘I have another three friends who’ve signed up, I’m trying to get others.’’
The asset manager from Constitution Hill said he first came across Ocsober while Googling Life Education.
Founded by the late Ted Noffs in 1979, Life Education is the largest non-government provider of drug and health education to young people, their families and communities Australia wide.
‘‘I remember when I was in primary school [Sacred Heart Primary, Westmead], every year we used to go to Life Education and Healthy Harold would teach us about health and fitness,’’ Mr Fayad said.