truth and Kevin Lyons partner with Cotopaxi to inspire tobacco-free lives

truth^®, one of the largest and most effective youth smoking prevention campaigns, and Cotopaxi, the outdoor gear company on a mission to alleviate poverty, move people to do good and inspire adventure, are joining forces to make positive changes in local communities and take a stand against tobacco. truth will join Cotopaxi for 25 of their 2017-2018 Questival adventure races, kicking off the partnership at today’s event in Philadelphia. They will launch a limited-edition Luzon Daypack designed by Brooklyn-based artist Kevin Lyons.

“We’re excited to partner with truth at our upcoming Questivals and unveil new, limited-edition Luzon Daypacks designed by Kevin Lyons,” said Davis Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of Cotopaxi. “We strongly align with the truth mission of making a positive, lasting impact on local communities.”

At each Questival stop, participants embark on a 24-hour outdoor adventure race while also doing service in their local communities.As part of upcoming events, truth will arm participants with facts and empower them to make their own informed choices about tobacco use. To illustrate these facts, attendees visiting the truth zone will engage in a series of mental and physical challenges to win truth merchandise like t-shirts, pins, sunglasses and more. Additionally, participants at today’s Philadelphia Questival will receive the limited-edition truth x Cotopaxi by Kevin Lyons Luzon Daypack – offering creative inspiration to be the generation that ends smoking for good. The truth x Cotopaxi by Kevin Lyons Luzon Daypack will also be available online for purchase for a limited time at Cotopaxi.com.

“While the teen smoking rate is at an historic low of six percent, tobacco rates in communities differ based on where you live, whom you love and even who you are, making change at the community level an essential part of our movement,” said Eric Asche, Chief Marketing Officer of Truth Initiative, the national public health organization that directs and funds the truth campaign. “Cotopaxi’s commitment to social good and improving communities makes them the perfect partner to join us in engaging young people to help us end tobacco use nationwide.”

Tobacco is still the number one cause of preventable death, killing more than 540,000 people each year. In 2014, truth launched the FinishIT campaign to empower teens to make this the generation that finishes tobacco once and for all. As part of the movement, millions of young people have taken steps to make their generation the one that ends smoking for good by taking action nationally and locally through social media and on-the-ground community efforts.

“Connecting with audiences at these 25 Questival events allows us the opportunity to enlist ‘Finishers’ in the cities that need them the most,” said Asche. “To us, ‘Finishers’ are the individuals making an impact on the tobacco issue within their own community. Big or small, every action taken toward ending tobacco use saves lives – from enlisting online, to wearing the truth x Cotopaxi by Kevin Lyons Luzon Daypack and sharing our facts with friends.”

For more information on truth, visit thetruth.com. For more information on Cotopaxi or to find a Questival event near you, visit Cotopaxi.com.

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