By Lynda-Marie Taurasi
WCHL Reporter

Cancer survivor Reena Roberts, who appears in statewide anti-tobacco television ads, told a Hillsborough crowd on Saturday the consequences she had to endure as a teenage smoker. She was diagnosed with cancer at 19 years old, and by the age of 21, lost her voice when surgeons had to remove her diseased-larynx.

Pamela Diggs is the youth tobacco-use prevention coordinator for Orange County TRU, a state-wide movement for teens and by teens to stay tobacco-free,  says Roberts appearance on Saturday was her first community presentation.

Teens from Orange County TRU joined thousands of teens across the country to take part in “Kick Butts Day, ”a nationwide initiative that engages youth in the effort to discourage tobacco use.

As part of that celebration, Orange County high school students hosted a carnival on Saturday and invited Roberts to speak. 

Diggs says the program has been effective in educating the teenage population on the risks of smoking, and that through the TRU media campaign there has been a decrease in smoking since 2003.

TRU’s teen tobacco prevention activities are funded by a grant from the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund which is coordinated locally by the Orange County Health Department.  Five local high schools each have Orange County TRU clubs.