Nearly 3,000 Seventh-day Adventist students and teachers marched through the streets of Puerto Rico’s capital city of San Juan on Feb. 10, the island’s National No Smoking Day. The march’s theme “Dare to be Different,” was organized to promote awareness concerning the dangers of smoking.

Elementary and high school students from throughout the island’s 25 Adventist Church-operated schools walked the streets of Old San Juan displaying anti-smoking and anti-drug banners.

“We have never organized this large of a march against smoking before,” says Hector Matias, communication director for the Adventist Church in Puerto Rico. 

“This year, the church in Puerto Rico wanted to take a united stand against the smoking habit that is prevalent in our society, and which is taking ahold of young people early on,” explains Matias.

The event was largely organized by the church’s Health and Education departments in the region, says Elie S. Honore, health ministries director for the church in Inter-America. Honore, who marched with students, also spoke following the march at the city’s main square, Plaza de Armas.

Church leaders have already declared that the march will become an annual event for the church in Puerto Rico. Organizers have begun planning for next year’s march.

Seventh-day Adventists are committed to promoting a positive and healthy way of life that avoids smoking and the use of alcohol and other drugs. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Puerto Rico operates 25 schools, one university and has more than 34,700 members worshiping in 275 churches.