Unsung heroes who help victims of drug abuse and work as youth and community activists will be honoured at a ground-breaking awards ceremony tonight.

The Community Service Awards Dinner, organised by campaign group Bermudians Against Narcotics (BAN) will hand its first ever awards Judith Burgess of Parent Resource Institute for Drug Education (PRIDE), Sandra Butterfield of the Focus counselling service, youth workers Eugene Vickers and Gerald Fubler and Robert Simmons, manager of the Salvation Army shelter for the homeless.

BAN was set up around 18 months ago to garner public support for the war against drugs in Bermuda. Founding member Takbir Sharrieff explained the recipients of tonight's awards were chosen because of the community spirit they have shown through their work.

"We have elements in our society that need to be recognised," he said. "Collectively these awardees have given an invaluable contribution to Bermuda's society and have either directly or indirectly positively affected the lives of all Bermudians with their good work."

Guests at the event, which kicks off at 7 p.m at the St. Paul's Christian Education Centre, Paget, will include patron Dale Butler, Minister for Social Rehabilitation, plus other Government Ministers and members of the Opposition.

The guest speaker will be Imam Yahya Abdullah, a Muslim community leader from Desoto, Texas, who has family links with Bermuda and is honorary founder-chairman of BAN.

He will talk about spirituality in relation to the cause and solution of social problems.

Some of the money raised by the event will go toward award recipient Mr. Vickers taking a group of 30 youngsters aged 13 to 17 on an educational tour of the 'I Can't, We Can' substance abuse treatment facility in Baltimore, Maryland.

"It's about educating people about what can happen when you get caught up in drugs and liquor abuse," said Mr. Sharrieff of the planned visit.

Fellow BAN founder Clinton Muhammad said he hoped the experience would be a life-shaping one for the youngsters.

"Who knows, some of them might become great drug counsellors or Government leaders of the future with empathy for what's happening in society, " he said.

BAN also plans to lobby Government for funds so that it can send some Bermudians suffering from addiction to the treatment centre in future.

Tickets are priced at $50 and are available on the door and also in advance from Brunswick Street Bakery, Nu-look Barber Shop and Caesar's Pharmacy.

Mr. Sharrieff said: "I would like for Bermudians to show their appreciation for the good works the award recipients have done over the years by supporting this function and supporting the effort to take the young men and women to the 'I Can't We Can' programme to prevent the escalation of a serious epidemic in Bermuda."

See Monday's edition of The Royal Gazette for more on the awards.