Channeling the resources available through the McMaster Athletes Care program, Marauder varsity athletes have become spokespersons for a valuable message.
 
What started as a pilot project in the Kitchener-Waterloo Region, Succeed Clean is a prevention program delivered by peer-mentors from Ontario universities to educate children and youth in Grades 7 to 12 about the dangers of appearance and performance-enhancing drugs (APEDs).
 
After a highly successful two-year pilot effort, the Ontario Trillium Foundation granted funding for the program to expand to eleven new communities, including the greater Hamilton Region.  McMaster Athletics has come on board in support of the program in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES).
 
This week saw two McMaster athletes participate in the initial stop on the Succeed Clean tour with a visit to Cardinal Newman high school in Stoney Creek to discuss their experiences as CIS athletes and making good decisions around the use of appearance and performance-enhancing drugs.
 
One of the Marauders making the visit was Steph Black from McMaster's national champion women's rugby team.
 
"I was fortunate enough to be brought up in an environment that valued more than just my achievements in sports. For this reason I was able to continue playing sports without feeling pressured to look or perform in a certain way that was beyond the scope of hard work and practise," shared Black.  "I'm part of this program at McMaster as I hope to be an influential role model for youth, demonstrating that it is possible to succeed in athletics through determination and hard work. Ultimately, I hope that these conversations will impact youths' decisions down the road and encourage them to continue along the clean path to success."
 
The other Marauder that participated was OUA all-star football player Zach Intzandt, who was also just confirmed as an invitee to the Evaluation Combine for prospective CFL draft picks.
 
"Being able to provide the local youth with the knowledge and resources to succeed clean is something that will only propel them to continually make good decisions in all facets of life," said Intzandt, about the message he and his fellow athletes are hoping to impart to their younger peers.
 
Other McMaster athletes that have committed to pass along this valuable message include: basketball players Danielle Boiago, Siobhan Manning and Rachael Holmes; rugby stalwart Ethan Sanders; football players Josh Vandeweerd and Jake Heathcote; and cross-country runners Maddy McDonald and Gabe Ghiglione .
 
Over the next two years, Succeed Clean will be delivered in schools and community organizations across Ontario, in partnership with local universities, school boards, community groups, and police services.  Mobilizing the tremendous roster of Marauder varsity athletes that work with McMaster Athletes Care, more visits in support of the program are on deck for other Hamilton schools.