By Kate Taliaferro
Social Media Editor

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]n January 11-14th, former NBA basketball star Chris Herren will be visiting the Outer Banks for the Go Project Purple event. According to GoProjectPurple.com, the event involves schools across the nation standing up against substance abuse by wearing purple shirts and awareness wristbands that say “Project Purple”.

The first stop for Herren on his Outer Banks sojourn will be Manteo High School on Sunday, January 13 at 2 p.m. to talk with students who choose to come. The OBX Project and Southern Bank are also presenting the first annual fundraiser and official launch of Project Purple 2013 at Jennette’s Pier on January 13. Dinner will be catered by Red Sky Cafe and desserts by Great Cakes. Tickets are $30 and all proceeds go towards the expansion of the OBX Project. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the fundraiser will begin at 5:00 p.m. This time will be used to give adults in the community a chance to hear Herren’s story as well as see the impact he has had on so many peoples’ lives. A short film highlighting how Project Purple has spread among the Outer Banks will also be shown.

Monday, January 14, Herren will have breakfast with Dare County Alternative School students and then will come to First Flight High School for a school-wide assembly, to recount his journey with students.

Project Purple was brought to the Outer Banks by the OBX Project this summer. OBX Project’s mission statement, according to its Facebook page, is “to work through schools and community organizations to provide education and resources, mentoring opportunities and support for programs that encourage healthy, positive self development and standing up to substance abuse.”

Dare County was chosen for this event, because of the huge impact of the project in our community, according to Kelly Tobin, vice president of the OBX Project. Purple items such as shirts, wristbands, shoelaces, sweatshirts, etc. were distributed to sports teams in the summer and, on the first day of school, almost 400 purple wristbands were distributed to students. The OBX Project team, along with Kelly and Jeff Tobin, a leader of OBX Project are excited for the arrival of Herren. If anyone is interested in purchasing a ticket to the fundraiser, contact Kelly Tobin at (252) 216-8045.

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