Drug-prevention initiative reaches runners and spectators at the 2026 Athens Marathon, with 49 athletes joining the campaign and Greek ultramarathon runner George Kyriakoulakos supporting its message.

Brussels, Belgium, 13th Nov 2026 — Volunteers associated with the Foundation for a Drug-Free World distributed more than 23,000 drug-prevention booklets during five days of activities surrounding the 43rd Athens Marathon, the Authentic, bringing educational materials to an international gathering of athletes, families and spectators.

The initiative took place from 4 to 8 November, beginning at the official Marathon Expo and concluding at the historic Panathenaic Stadium, commonly known as Kallimarmaro, where runners crossed the finish line. 49 athletes participated in the races wearing Drug-Free World T-shirts, extending the initiative’s visibility beyond its information stands.

The activities coincided with a record-breaking edition of Greece’s largest running event. More than 85,000 participants registered across the weekend’s races, representing approximately 124 countries, with around 25,000 registered for the traditional 42.195-kilometre marathon.

Four Days of Public Education at the Marathon Expo

From 4 to 7 November, Drug-Free World volunteers operated stand number 144 at the Allwyn Marathon Expo, held at the Indoor Stadium of Palaio Faliro, a former Olympic venue.

The exhibition, organised in connection with the marathon by the Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS), brought together more than 180 sporting brands and services, alongside organisations involved in health, fitness and athletic activities.

During the four-day exhibition, volunteers distributed approximately 18,000 copies of The Truth About Drugs educational booklets, together with 35 information packs and 66 DVDs.

The materials explain the effects and risks associated with commonly misused substances, including alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, synthetic drugs and the misuse of prescription medication. They are intended to support informed decisions, particularly among young people, by presenting drug-related information in accessible language.

The exhibition provided an opportunity to reach people already engaged in sport and physical activity, as well as parents, coaches and other visitors attending the event.

A further element of the initiative involved inviting registered athletes to carry the campaign’s message during their races. 49 runners agreed to wear Drug-Free World shirts, connecting the prevention message with the wider sporting community.

An Ultramarathon Runner Linking Sport and Prevention

Among those representing the initiative was Greek ultramarathon runner George Kyriakoulakos, whose involvement in drug-prevention education predates this year’s Athens Marathon.

Kyriakoulakos, founder of the UltraMarathon Greece and Ligo Akoma platforms, has participated in demanding endurance events, including the Spartathlon and other ultradistance competitions.

His commitment to drug education has also been documented independently of the current event.

In a September 2025 interview with UltraMarathon Greece, Kyriakoulakos described his participation in the Citizens’ Initiative for a Drug-Free Greece, a volunteer effort providing information to students, athletes and the wider public.

He explained that the initiative conducts presentations in schools and sporting environments to improve awareness of drug-related risks. Reflecting on the connection between athletics and prevention, he stated that sport should inspire, strengthen people and remain free from drugs.

His involvement illustrates how volunteer initiatives can develop relationships with individuals who are already active in community organisations and sporting networks.

Rather than treating prevention as a subject limited to schools or formal awareness campaigns, the Athens activities placed educational information in a setting where health, physical endurance and personal choices were already subjects of public interest.

Drug-Prevention Outreach at the Historic Finish Line

On Sunday, 8 November, the volunteers continued their activities at the Panathenaic Stadium, the marble stadium associated with the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

The stadium hosted the finish of the Authentic Marathon, whose traditional route begins in the town of Marathon and passes through eastern Attica before entering central Athens.

The volunteers operated an information stand at the stadium, distributing approximately 5,500 additional booklets to people attending the event.

This second phase brought the campaign into contact with the marathon’s finishing area, where runners, accompanying families and spectators gathered throughout the day.

The 2026 marathon weekend also included 5-kilometre and 10-kilometre events, university races, children’s competitions and activities involving athletes with disabilities, reflecting the breadth of participation in the annual sporting programme.

Together, the exhibition and stadium activities accounted for more than 23,000 educational booklets distributed, alongside the additional audiovisual and information materials provided during the week.

A Wider International Drug-Education Programme

The Athens activities formed part of the international Truth About Drugs campaign developed by the Foundation for a Drug-Free World.

The Foundation produces educational booklets, documentaries, public-service announcements and online learning materials intended to inform young people and adults about substance misuse.

Its materials are available in multiple languages, including Greek, allowing volunteers and participating organisations to adapt their outreach to local communities.

The programme is supported internationally by the Church of Scientology and its members. The Church identifies drug-prevention education as one of the humanitarian initiatives inspired by its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, who placed emphasis on personal responsibility, education and addressing social problems through practical action.

In Greece, Church of Scientology volunteers have previously participated in drug-awareness activities connected with the Athens Marathon, including outreach documented during the 2022 edition.

The latest initiative continues that involvement through public information stands and participation by members of the sporting community.

Ivan Arjona, representative of the Church of Scientology to the European Union, OSCE, Council of Europe and United Nations, connected the Athens activities with wider European principles of prevention and civic responsibility.

“Sport brings people together across generations, nationalities and backgrounds. When volunteers use occasions such as the Athens Marathon to share information about drug-related risks, they contribute to a culture of prevention and informed personal choice. Across Europe, access to education and responsible civic participation are important elements of protecting individual well-being and strengthening our communities.”

The Athens campaign reflects an approach to prevention that relies on accessible educational materials and volunteer participation in public events.

While distribution figures measure the reach of the materials rather than subsequent changes in behaviour, they illustrate the scale of the volunteers’ activities during a major international sporting occasion.

The combination of educational stands, participating athletes and the involvement of established endurance runners brought the subject of drug awareness into a public setting extending beyond conventional classroom-based prevention activities.

About the Church of Scientology

The Church of Scientology, founded by L. Ron Hubbard, supports social betterment initiatives addressing drug prevention, human rights education, moral values and volunteer assistance. Churches of Scientology, missions, affiliated groups and individual members are present throughout the European continent, contributing to locally organised educational and community activities. Recognition of Scientology as a bona fide religion and the charitable status of its institutions has developed across different national jurisdictions, although legal frameworks vary between European countries. The Church’s humanitarian programmes reflect its stated commitment to education, prevention, individual responsibility and community betterment.
 

Media Contact

Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights

Contact Person: Ivan Arjona

Website: https://www.scientologyeurope.org

Email: Send Email

Address: Boulevard de Waterloo 103

City: Brussels

State: Brussels

Country: Belgium

Release id: 50705

View source version on King Newswire:
Drug-Free World Volunteers Distribute More Than 23,000 Booklets During Athens Marathon Week

Anniversary activities bring free practical training to Milan’s streets, discussions with local institutions and a blood donation session organised with AVIS Milano.

Brussels, Belgium, 13th Nov 2026 — Scientology Volunteer Ministers began a week of public activities in Milan on 31 October, offering residents free practical training resources and marking eleven years since the opening of the Church of Scientology’s headquarters in the city’s Bicocca district. The programme includes meetings with representatives of local institutions, information on volunteer assistance and a blood donation session scheduled for Friday, 6 November, in cooperation with AVIS Milano.

The anniversary, held under the theme “Celebrating the Value of Volunteering — Together for the Heart of Our Community,” focuses on the contribution of people who dedicate their time to helping others, whether through emergency assistance, education, environmental protection or support for those experiencing difficulties.

The opening day combined street-level outreach with a gathering attended by representatives of civil protection services, diplomatic circles and local institutions. Together, the events highlighted the working relationships developed between the Milan Church and organisations active in the city.

Practical skills shared in Milan’s streets

On Saturday, 31 October, the anniversary of the headquarters’ inauguration in 2015, Scientology Volunteer Ministers visited streets and public squares to introduce residents to Strumenti per la Vita (Tools for Life), a collection of free online courses intended to help people address common personal and interpersonal difficulties.

The materials cover subjects including communication, conflict resolution, organisation, personal responsibility and assisting others in challenging circumstances.

These courses form part of the international Scientology Volunteer Ministers programme, based on the work of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Developed in the 1970s, the programme provides training for individuals interested in acquiring practical skills for use in everyday situations and volunteer work.

In Milan, the volunteers concentrated on making these educational resources available to residents, explaining their content and how they can be accessed online without charge.

The outreach was followed by an institutional gathering featuring presentations and personal accounts from people involved in community assistance. Representatives of civil protection organisations, the diplomatic community and local institutions participated in the meeting, which addressed the contribution of voluntary service and the importance of cooperation between organisations operating in the same territory.

The opening message emphasised that volunteering extends beyond individual generosity:

“Volunteering is not merely an individual act of generosity. It is also a form of active citizenship, capable of strengthening social cohesion, countering isolation and fostering a culture of care and shared responsibility.”

The yellow tent and the message that something can be done

Another part of the anniversary programme was a public presentation planned for Tuesday, 3 November, in Piazza Antonio Gramsci, under the title Qualcosa si può fare — Something Can Be Done About It.

The event was designed to introduce visitors to the work of Scientology Volunteer Ministers through their yellow tent, a familiar feature of the programme’s public activities in Italy and other countries.

The tent provides a setting for explaining the volunteers’ methods, demonstrating educational materials and discussing the kinds of problems for which their training is intended.

The programme’s motto, Something Can Be Done About It, was chosen by Hubbard to express the principle that people can take constructive action when confronted with difficulties rather than assuming that nothing can be changed.

Beyond public information activities, Volunteer Ministers have participated in emergency responses and community assistance initiatives in various countries. Their work is organised through local Scientology communities and volunteer networks, with training available to people beyond the Church’s membership.

The Milan presentation formed part of the wider anniversary programme, which sought to make that work better understood among residents and local organisations.

Blood donation day with AVIS Milano on 6 November

The week’s concluding initiative will take place on Friday, 6 November, when the Church of Scientology at Viale Fulvio Testi 327 will host a mobile blood collection unit from AVIS Milano.

The event continues an established relationship between the local Church and the Italian blood donor association, which has previously organised collection activities at the premises.

AVIS is one of Italy’s principal organisations dedicated to voluntary blood donation. Its local branches work with healthcare services to support blood supplies for patients who require transfusions, surgical procedures and other medical treatments.

Hosting a mobile collection unit allows an organisation to contribute premises and logistical support while qualified medical personnel oversee the donation procedures.

For the Scientology volunteers involved, the collaboration represents a different form of public service from the educational activities that opened the anniversary week. Instead of distributing information or offering training, the Church provides a venue for an established healthcare-related service that depends on voluntary participation.

The initiative also draws attention to the cooperation between religious communities and specialised charitable or public-interest organisations, an established feature of Italy’s voluntary sector.

Eleven years at Viale Fulvio Testi

The Church of Scientology of Milan inaugurated its current headquarters on 31 October 2015. Located on Viale Fulvio Testi, the building accommodates the Church’s religious activities, educational facilities and spaces used for public information and community events.

Its information centre presents the beliefs and history of Scientology alongside programmes supported by the Church in areas including drug prevention, human rights education and volunteer assistance.

Over the past eleven years, the Milan premises have also served as a meeting place for activities involving outside organisations and representatives of civil society.

The anniversary week follows this pattern, combining programmes organised by Scientology volunteers with activities involving institutions and associations whose work serves the wider population.

Ivan Arjona, representative of the Church of Scientology to the European Union, OSCE, Council of Europe and United Nations, sees particular value in such local partnerships.

“Europe’s principles of solidarity and respect for human dignity become more meaningful when they are part of everyday life,” said Arjona. “In Milan, that means people sharing their knowledge, making time for others and working with organisations such as AVIS. Religious communities have a place in that effort, alongside everyone else who wants to make a useful contribution to society.”

The blood donation session on 6 November will conclude a programme that began with volunteers speaking directly to residents in Milan’s public spaces and continued with exchanges involving people engaged in local service.

About the Church of Scientology

Founded by L. Ron Hubbard, the Church of Scientology is present throughout Europe through its churches, missions, affiliated groups and members. Its humanitarian and community programmes include drug prevention education, human rights awareness, volunteer assistance and initiatives promoting ethical conduct and social responsibility. The Church’s recognition as a bona fide religion and, in several jurisdictions, its charitable status have developed within Europe’s different national legal systems. Its European churches and associated organisations continue to support educational, preventive and community activities in cooperation with local partners.

Media Contact

Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights

Contact Person: Ivan Arjona

Website: https://www.scientologyeurope.org

Email: Send Email

Address: Boulevard de Waterloo 103

City: Brussels

State: Brussels

Country: Belgium

Release id: 50470

View source version on King Newswire:
Milan Scientology Volunteers Mark 11 Years of Community Service

Boston, MA, November 12th, 2026, FinanceWire

Developed by Ledger cofounder Nicolas Bacca, the app runs on KeyOS, Foundation’s open source operating system that lets independent developers build apps for Passport.

Foundation today announced the beta launch of the Universal Ethereum Signer on Passport, Foundation’s Human Authority Hardware device. Developed by Ledger cofounder Nicolas Bacca, now CEO of ZKnox, with the work funded by an Ethereum Foundation grant to ZKnox, the app lets users review and sign Ethereum transactions and messages on dedicated open source hardware, keeping their private keys off their phone or computer.

Passport was chosen as the app’s first hardware platform because developers can build on KeyOS without asking Foundation’s permission. Developers can write the software that runs on the device, design the screens users see, and release their own updates. Passport owners can then install the app themselves, without waiting for Foundation to add those capabilities to a system update.

“Having enough memory lets us reuse well-tested open source code instead of writing everything from scratch,” said Nicolas Bacca, developer of the Universal Ethereum Signer. “On Passport, we can do that in an open development environment, with KeyOS keeping the signer separate from other apps on the device.”

Foundation began building KeyOS in late 2022 so independent developers could create security apps without being given access to everything stored on the device. The operating system gives each app its own protected environment, storage, and permissions; the Ethereum signer, for example, receives its own signing keys by default, separate from those used by other apps. This allows users to add Ethereum signing to the same device they use for Bitcoin, login credentials, and private files.

“When you buy security hardware, you should be able to keep using it as your needs change,” said Zach Herbert, cofounder and CEO of Foundation. “You shouldn’t have to buy another device every time you want a new capability or wait for the manufacturer to build it. We built KeyOS so developers can bring those ideas to users themselves.”

For Ethereum users, the app works alongside a compatible wallet on their phone or computer. After preparing a transaction in that wallet, they scan its QR code with Passport’s camera and review the request on Passport’s screen. If they approve it, Passport produces a digital signature and displays it as a QR code for the wallet to scan. The signature returns to the wallet while the private keys stay on Passport, with no USB or Bluetooth connection needed for signing.

To help users check what they are signing, the app implements Verifiable Signing. Alongside the destination, amount, fees, and network, it displays a cryptographic fingerprint of additional transaction data that users can compare with an independently verified value before approving the transaction.

The launch follows Legacy Mode, which brings existing open source apps developed for Ledger to Passport. With the Universal Ethereum Signer, users can now install an Ethereum app built directly for KeyOS.

“We’re pleased to support ZKnox’s work on the Universal Ethereum Signer, an open source app designed to run across multiple hardware platforms,” said Nicolas Consigny, member of the Ethereum Foundation’s Strategy Team. “The app launches first on KeyOS, with additional hardware integrations already in development.”

The Universal Ethereum Signer is available in beta today as an optional, manual installation on Passport Prime, with distribution through Foundation’s app catalog planned for this winter. Source code and installation documentation are available in the Ethereum GitHub organization.

Passport Prime is available starting at $349 at foundation.xyz. Developers can find the tools and documentation to build their own apps at foundation.xyz/developers.

About Foundation

Foundation builds Human Authority Hardware: open source security devices that give individuals control over their money, identity, and digital lives. Its flagship device, Passport Prime, is assembled in the United States. Learn more at foundation.xyz.

Ledger is a trademark of Ledger SAS. This announcement does not imply Ledger’s sponsorship or endorsement of Foundation or the Universal Ethereum Signer.

Contact

Founder
Phil
21M Communications
phil@21mcommunications.com