Jeff Yalden shared funny and poignant stories about his own teenage daughters Sunday to get his message across to teens at the Raze On 2008! camp at the University of Charleston.

An energetic speaker, Yalden told students in one breath that his kindergarten teacher's makeup made her look like "Shrek and frickin' Barney."

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Raze teens (from left) Tonya Casto, Jessica Taylor and Ashley Smith laugh at speaker Yalden.

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Students involved in anti-tobacco programs across several West Virginia schools are joined together for a three-day Raze conference, which began Sunday. 

Some time ago, Yalden's teen daughter cried on her bed because a boyfriend broke up with her. At first he tried to comfort her, and he told her that love is an emotion that means nothing without commitment.

As the conversation evolved, Yalden caught himself saying, "You know what I love? I love doughnuts."

"That didn't go over too well," he said.

To draw his audience in, Yalden joked about "The Miracle of Life," teen films like "Superbad," Helen Keller, and, most incessantly, his family.

Still, he shared life lessons that included his wife's struggle with thyroid cancer, his father's decision to kick him out of his home at a young age and the pain his autistic nephew, Patrick, has experienced while growing up with his disability.

He encouraged the middle and high-school students gathered Sunday to realize the consequences of their actions, choose their friends wisely and to find a purpose greater than themselves.

In 2005, his daughter's idea to send water to Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans snowballed into a $1,740 commitment in just a couple days.

Jeff Yalden shared funny and poignant stories about his own teenage daughters Sunday to get his message across to teens at the Raze On 2008! camp at the University of Charleston.

An energetic speaker, Yalden told students in one breath that his kindergarten teacher's makeup made her look like "Shrek and frickin' Barney."

"You know what she did?" he asked next. "She gave me value."

Students involved in anti-tobacco programs across several West Virginia schools are joined together for a three-day Raze conference, which began Sunday. 

Some time ago, Yalden's teen daughter cried on her bed because a boyfriend broke up with her. At first he tried to comfort her, and he told her that love is an emotion that means nothing without commitment.

As the conversation evolved, Yalden caught himself saying, "You know what I love? I love doughnuts."

"That didn't go over too well," he said.

To draw his audience in, Yalden joked about "The Miracle of Life," teen films like "Superbad," Helen Keller, and, most incessantly, his family.

Still, he shared life lessons that included his wife's struggle with thyroid cancer, his father's decision to kick him out of his home at a young age and the pain his autistic nephew, Patrick, has experienced while growing up with his disability.

He encouraged the middle and high-school students gathered Sunday to realize the consequences of their actions, choose their friends wisely and to find a purpose greater than themselves.

In 2005, his daughter's idea to send water to Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans snowballed into a $1,740 commitment in just a couple days.

Yalden, an MTV personality and motivational speaker, was the first of a handful of guest speakers. Former Winston cigarette advertising model David Goerlitz will emcee the event. Goerlitz is now a tobacco prevention advocate.

Motivational speaker Aric Bostick and father-and-son team Ken and Adam Dahlgren will encourage healthy choices and discuss global tobacco issues today and Tuesday.

"We're here to learn new ways to fight tobacco companies' lies," said teen advisory council president Heather Hart. "We try to intermix the fun things with the educational."

Students also looked forward to a dance Sunday and other activities over the next couple days.

Ripley High School student Tonya Casto said in school, she and other classmates set up information booths and try to spread the word against tobacco use.

Brooke High School junior Macey Negri said and others visit middle and elementary schools in the Northern Panhandle to discourage use "before tobacco sets in."

Reach Davin White at

davinwh...@wvgazette.com

or at 348-1254.